Lost Mayan city found in Mexico

Chactun has been hidden for centuries in the rain forests of eastern Mexico, and it consisted of 15 pyramids, including one 23 meters high.

Archaeologists have found an ancient Mayan city that for centuries has been hidden in the rainforests of eastern Mexico, and they are hoping that they will provide new data about the collapse of civilization 1,000 years ago.

The team, led by John Šprajc, professor of Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences, has found 15 pyramids, including one 23 meters high, fields, beach and high stone wall. The city was named Chactun, meaning "red rocks" or "great rock."

Šprajc says that the city is likely to be less populated than Tikal in Guatemala, and in it there were between 30,000 and 40,000 people, although additional research is needed to give an exact number. Chactu was probably the peak experienced in the late classic period of Mayan civilization between 600 and 900, said Šprajc Reuters.

The professor said that the city, which is spread over 22 acres and is located 120 kilometers from Četumala, one of the largest found in Yucatan. The closest populated place is the town Ksipuhil, 25 kilometers away.

"The whole city is covered jungle," said the archaeologist. 

And while the city was unknown to the academic community, Šprajc found evidence that the city about 20 to 30 years ago was visiting by people, but since no one went there.

"Ax Men have certainly spent time there as you can see notches on the trees. But nobody said nothing, "said Šprajc.

This professor is a city "discovered" looking photos into aerial 15 years ago. His team has three weeks cleared the 16-mile-long path through the jungle to reach the city. After the six weeks of mapped place and documented monuments, blocked access to prevent unauthorized entry.

The presence of more of the playing ball is proof that Čaktun was an important city, is considered Šprajc. Most likely it was abandoned 1,000 years ago, probably due to demographic pressures, climate change, wars and rebellion.On hopes of finding shed new light on the relations between the different regions of the Mayan empire during this period.

The Mayan civilization was one of the most advanced in pre-Columbian America and the Maya ruled much of the Yucatan, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Tikal, which were first discovered by archaeologists in the late 19th century, had 90,000 inhabitants. 

Mammoths are comming back

Japanese scientists plan to 2017. year to revive mammoths. Already geneticists all over the world working on the cloning of animals that have become extinct before the tens of thousands of years. Some experts claim that the Earth will soon look like a Hollywood movie "Jurassic Park," while others refer to reality is not confused with advertising campaigns.
The idea of ​​cloning extinct animals, but some tens of years excites minds on the margins of science and ordinary people. Today, the interrupt serious and even jokingly talks about reviving prehistoric Squamata, dinosaurs - far too long bone were in their country, so they only save the traces on the stones.
Another thing mammoths. The history of these animals began at about the same time as the history of the human race, but it was too short. Unlike the dinosaurs whose remains likely to be present in the hot rocky desert landscapes, mammoths found frozen in layers of soil (permafrost) in the arctic regions of Siberia and in North America. Over thousands of years in ice, as in the refrigerator to preserve the animal's body, preserved the soft tissue, bone, and skin often. It begins with the "miracle" of cloning a mammoth, about which scientists, despite the enormous skepticism, - for the first time seriously discussed. The only thing they need most fragments of tissues extinct, with well-preserved DNA. The realization of this project is very real, but it does not lead to anything good, is the conviction biologist Alexander Chubenko, science journalist, editor of the website "Eternal Youth".
- Not known arrangement of genes in the chromosomes, I'm not sure whether it is about the number of chromosomes as they are so frozen tissue remaining some "leftovers" and "odds and ends" of the DNA. Secondly, it is doubtful that the uterus to accept an embryo mammoth elephant, even if it is obtained. Far more interesting than these projects, cloning, and is far more promising idea Jack Horner of the University of Montana. He intends to make to the "dino-chicken" or "coco-saurus." Take chicken, activate the "sleeping" genes, which are not functioning, and the egg, perhaps in several stages, to get something like a dinosaur.
According to experts, this scientific experiment will cost about two million dollars, while the value of cloning a mammoth - billions of dollars. Considerably lower rates to "resurrect" pet owners offered a sad American businessmen. Cloning and beloved puppy or kitten  cost of 250 thousand U.S. dollars. But one thing is - pet, and quite another - the mammoth, that simply will not survive in the present conditions is considered by many scholars, simply because the climate on Earth is quite different, but rather a 400 thousand years.
While some scientists are trying to cloning mammoth - Scientists from Australia's University of New South Wales already created genome rare frogs. This species has completely disappeared on the continent early 80s of the last century. True derived embryos did not survive, as it was with the cloning 2009th The Pyrenean mountain goat, who lived a few minutes from the moment of birth. Scientists, however, do not lose hope and the hope of a breakthrough in cloning extinct species. What can be the consequences, and if we get to the end of some monstrous creature - their thoughts on how is the doctor of biological sciences, professor, deputy director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of viral and cellular molecular genetics IMG Sciences Vyacheslav Tarantula.
- Conduct a discussion, for example, even in the case of such a project as cloning Neanderthals. This is not a man, it is a minor species. This situation is quite controversial as human cloning, because it is not known what will be there to give birth and how to deal with this creature: as an animal or to man. In general, there are technical and moral issues, and of course economically.
Additionally Today there is another problem, which can not overlook. In Yakutia - the permafrost zone, lies a vast amount of forgotten forms of life, and began to "war" in the ruins, the remains of the missing animals. Because apart from national research teams, we are present, "the mammoth hunters" who just leads to fighting. The point is that in 1990. in world trade is prohibited elephants tusks so the tusks of a mammoth, that make up the most diverse things - from chess pieces to ornaments, to get the price. The price of one pair of tusks on the black market may be about 75 thousand euros. It is known that a necklace made from this material have even first lady Michelle Obama.
But until someone deals with the cloning of rare species of animals, and some of that money, our planet is still a far more significant problem. The biological diversity of the earth every day all the poorer. So that in the near future the world may think of cloning as yet live tigers, leopards and rhinos.

Fossil from Serbia sheds new light on human evolution

New data on the discovery of fossils of human jaw fragment, which was found in a cave in Little Balanica Serbia, published in the prestigious scientific journal "PLoS One", announced today the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.
This discovery represents the oldest human ancestors find in this part of Europe, and the article published by William Jack Rink of McMaster University in Canada and an international team led by Dusan Mihailovic with the Faculty of Philosophy and Mirjana Roksandić the University of Winnipeg (Canada).
It has been found, according to Rink, the fossil was at least 397,000 years, and that is probably older than 525,000 years, and found the oldest Eastern jaw fossil hominids Middle-Pleistocene.
Mihajlovic said that the South-East Europe is very important for understanding human evolution.
"Hello dated by the fossils from this period are very rare, and we found that this is in many ways unique. Obtained dates pushing the boundaries in the study of human evolution. Studies have shown that the Balkans represented a" gate of Europe "and was one of three refugial areas where people, plants and animals found refuge during the glacial period. inspires us all to continue the excavations, "he said.
Roksandić noted that at that time in Western Europe, human ancestors began to incorporate Neandertal features, which do not appear in this report.
"Scientists believe that the development of Neanderthal traits brought about by the Western European population in glacial periods were isolated. Contrast, Southeastern Europe has never been isolated from Asia and Africa, and the human impact on the evolution of an entirely different factors. Balkan Peninsula by apparently belonged to the home area from which the human community re-colonize Europe after the retreat of glaciers. Fossil is committed to the species Homo erectus, "she explained.
On the dating of the fossils were engaged anthropologists, archaeologists and physicists from Serbia, Canada, Great Britain and France.
Jaw was found 2006th , and dating was carried out at the University of Bordeaux, in the laboratory of Dr. Rink, McMaster University nuclear reactor and research center geotop University of Quebec at Montreal, and the analysis of sediment carried to Oxford Brookes University in the UK.
Archaeological excavations of Large and Small Balanice lasting from 2004. year, and funded by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Serbia.
Since 2010. as part of the excavation is organizing an international summer school, which is implemented by the Faculty of Philosophy and the University of Winnipeg.

What happened 65 million years ago?

For decades, scientists have argued over the cause of death of dinosaurs. A new study supports the theory that they ruled volcanoes.

The volcanic activity in the region belonging to India's killed the dinosaurs, say scientists from Princeton University. Scientists, who, for years, I can not decide whether dinosaurs killed volcanoes, meteors, asteroids, or something else entirely.

Scientists at the University of Princeton argue that the huge volcanic eruption in the region known as the "Dean of the Castle" near Mumbai caused toxic pollution of sulfur and carbon dioxide gas that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

"There's simply no evidence that the Earth was hit by a large enough meteorite or asteroid would cause mass mortality of living beings. Wholly with certainty claim to have done a volcano," said geologist Gerta Keller of Princeton.

In Rome, dug the place where Julius Caesar was killed

On the Field of Mars Rome Spanish archaeologists have unearthed the exact place where Julius Caesar was murdered. During excavations at the site of the first stone theater of Pompeii scientists have found that the plate was cemented by no means associated with the interior architecture and a monument of its kind to one of the greatest men of antiquity. Experts say that this panel, three meters wide and two tall, placed at the murder scene during the reign of Caesar's heir Octavian emperor Augustus.

Discovered fossil of a prehistoric reptile

Discovered a rare fossil of a prehistoric aquatic reptile, which probably represents the most complete skeleton of beings found in the area of North America, said University of Alaska Museum North in Fairbanks.

Scientists at the Alaska discovered a fossil of a rare prehistoric aquatic reptile, which probably represents the most complete skeleton of beings found in the area of North America, said the North Museum (Museum of the North), University of Alaska Fairbanks in.

Nearly complete skeleton belongs thalattosaur - long tail sea creature, inhabiting the warm shallow water in the early age of the dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Triassic, 200 million years ago.

The fossil was discovered during extreme low tides along the coast Tongas National Forest (Tongas National Forest), officials said.

Most of the discoveries of fossil remains in the form of talatosaurusa individual bones or fragments of bones, while the new found fossil is an almost complete skeleton.

Scientists have unearthed the fossils of the June and is now being questioned to determine whether it is an unknown type, since that is the world so far discovered 12 copies talatosaurusa.

Geologist Jim Baićtal believes that it is likely that this is an unknown species.

"The fossil, which resembles a large lizard, found in southeast Alaska, while the previous talatosaurusa remains discovered in British Columbia, Canada, Nevada, in the Alps, although the best were found in China," he said.

Part of the fossils found in the North there is a museum, and experts estimate that the entire skeleton length between one and three meters, with a third of his body is the tail.

It is interesting that the skeleton can be seen the remains of soft tissue, which is extremely rare and can greatly help in discovering how the reptile looked like.
 
Scientists would later dig up the rest of the fossils that are still in the rock and hope to find a skull.

Neanderthals were crossed with humans

New genetic analysis showed that some of the human X chromosome derived from Neanderthals.

New genetic analysis showed that some of the human X chromosome derived from the Neanderthals, according to "Fox News". The ancestors of Neanderthals have left Africa before 400,000 to 800,000 years, and most of them settled in the area of ​​today's France, Spain, Germany and Russia. They are about 30,000 years ago died out or have joined the population of modern humans. The ancestors of modern humans left Africa prior to about 50,000 to 80,000 years.

They found, however, that some X chromosomes come from Neanderthals and considered that these two types of mutually intersected.

Scientists believe that the crossing, probably happened in the Middle East.

Neanderthals, since they had a gene for speech, they were skilled at making weapons and tools as they had a sense for music, you probably were not averse to modern man. Experts say that these two species almost certainly intersected, but that should still make additional research to reveal more details.

Atlantis found?

Geologists who have studied the seafloor for one oil company stumbled on an unusual sight. The landscape area of 10,000 square kilometers of which is estimated to be 56 million years old! Many bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-lost Atlantis.

Scientists have never seen something like that - in the deep ocean landscape 56 million years old!

The northern part of the Atlantic is hiding in the depths of our ancient landscape, which has drawn the river valleys and peaks of what were once mountains. Geologists, who until this discovery while collecting data for an oil company, said that the landscape of age about 56 million years, and many have immediately brought in connection with Antlantis.

"It seems the way the maps look like small places on the coast, and is located at a depth of two kilometers and occupies about 10,000 square kilometers, how we've managed to discover," said Niki White, who was the team of researchers.

Scientists are convinced that the landscape of the area where today Scotland and Norway, and has so far found that consisted of eight major rivers and rich flora and fauna. They are convinced and will find numerous fossils of various animal species that have lived then.

"The main question is how the 2.5 million this year managed to rise above the landscape of the country, and then fall into it. In geological terms, this is a very short period to do so, "revealed White, adding that in theory with the most fans as the reason for all states that magma is on the field in the interior.

The temperature of magma has created a huge fiery crest, which simply collapsed due to high heat.
It is this detail will be the main guiding principle because geologists have never encountered anything like it and expose the reasons for such phenomena could bring a lot of answers to questions about Earth's interior.

Recorded inside tomb of Maya

Archaeologists for the first time the camera recorded the inside of a Mayan tomb in Mexico, which is thought to be 1500 years old.

Using a small video camera, researchers were able to record the graves photographic Palenkveu in southeastern Mexico. The camera was rolling about five meters deep in the grave and caught the red color on the walls, and black numbers. Scientists say the findings could provide a new view of the Mayan civilization.

The tomb was discovered in Palenkveu in 1999. years but archaeologists have not been able to dig deeper for fear that it could collapse. Archaeologists say the Maya are probably members of the slow death after the stones directly on the floor of the tomb.

Palenljue is usually the Mayan city-state, but after the fall of the eighth century "disappeared" in the jungle. Location has been extensively studied, especially during the last two centuries, but much is still left undiscovered. Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported that their archaeologists know of the tomb for more than ten years, but they were not able to examine.

The Institute said in a statement that the remains of the tomb probably a very important person in this ancient city.

The camera was discovered in the tombs of nine figures, and painted the walls blood red, and the material that is believed to be the burial costume.

"Unlike the other tombs were found in Palenkveu or sarcophagus, which suggests that they lay the body flat on the floor," the statement said the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico, local media reported.

Experts say that the graves probably belong to the first ruler could Palenkvea K'uk Bahlamu I, while another theory says that it could belong to the Ix Yohl Ik'nal, women wives. Marta Cuevas says archaeologist to the tomb in any case, should belong to the part of the royal necropolis.

Mummy told of the ancient atmosphere

The ancient Egyptians were a breath of polluted air. For them, as well as modern humans, the actual problem was a bad environment and diseases caused thereby. Up to this conclusion came from Roger Montgomery Manchester University.

Montgomery took lung tissue samples of 15 Egyptian mummies in various regions of Egypt that belonged to people of various social status. It turns out that they matured in a lot of solids - obviously, with polluted air. What is Britain's surprise, their volume was somewhat smaller than the current population of Megapolis. The composition of foreign bodies still to be studied, but it is quite evident that it may be the cause of various disease the ancient Egyptians.

Traces of the disease found in mummies are known. More 1970th experts of the respective universities Mančesterskog described the case of lung disease in mummies 3800 years old. The lungs were scarred, so that their ancient owner probably found it hard to breathe.

Why, in ancient times the air was polluted so badly? Although the population was tens of times fewer than today, one can speak of a strong žaritšima pollution, although the sometimes considered the head of the laboratory of evolutionary Geography Institute of Geography RAN Andrey Velichko.

Study of state of the atmosphere from that era through the chemical analysis shows that global pollution is not any. Unnecessary substances, small gas components - nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, carbon dioxide had no way to be so. It is possible that there was some kind of local pollution. Because they use at that time the fire stills. If it was located in a close room, you could have the effect of pollution in the lungs. I now can happen too, when working in a dusty room.

One of the factors of negative effects on the environment then it could be soot, is confident the deputy director of the Institute of Physics of the atmosphere RAN Alexander Ginzburg.

Soot was then per capita could be higher than now. Burn are bad fuel - coal, peat, brown coal. I inquired for Urbanistics with great surprise found that in Ancient Rome was a small population density, and not higher than in modern cities. They lived cramped. For them, the environment could be much more harmful, than for city dwellers now.

What exactly are the particles got into the lungs inhabitants of Ancient Egypt, Roger Montgomery hopes to establish with the help of the experiment. Burning various forms of fuel, it will collect the soot and compare them with particles from the mummy. It will also have to compare patterns of sand particles from the ancient tombs of sand due to lung mummy. If it turns out that sand grains in the lungs have a smooth shape, they have it from nature, and if the sharp corners, means that it is a by-product of ancient crafts, be environmentally harmful.

The results of experiments that will illuminate the ecological situation of the ancient world will be announced in the fall.

Discovered the tomb of the Mona Lisa?

Archaeologists at the monastery of Saint Ursula in Florence dug up a skeleton that is believed to have belonged to Lizzie Gerardin del Djokondo who was supposedly the model for Leonardo's image.

Mystery of the most famous smiles in the world may not yet resolved, but archaeologists say they have found the body of the famous Mona Lisa. The monastery of Saint Ursula in Florence, they had unearthed a skeleton that is believed to have belonged to Lizzie Gerardin del Djokondo who was supposedly the model for Leonardo's image.

Scientists have a few years ago based on historical records come to the conclusion that Liz last two years of his life (the 1542nd year) spent in the monastery of Saint Ursula in Florence and is buried there.

On the first view of the skull and pelvis, the skeleton probably belonged to a woman - said anthropologist Giorgio Grupioni.

Archaeologists will take DNA from the bones and compare it with the remains of Lisa's children, who were buried in a separate grave. Scientists hope that will restore her face and compare it with what the Mona Lisa painting.