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Archaeologists from Johns Hopkins University have unearthed what is believed to be the earliest example of alphabetic writing during an excavation in Syria. The inscriptions were found on small, clay cylinders within a tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, an ancient urban centre in western Syria. The writing has been dated to approximately 2400 BCE, pushing back the origins of alphabetic systems by 500 years. This discovery raises new questions about the evolution of written communication and its impact on early societies.

Discovery Details and Artefacts

The clay cylinders, found in a tomb alongside pottery, jewellery, and weapons, are thought to have served as labels or identifiers. Dr Glenn Schwartz, a professor of archaeology at Johns Hopkins University, who led the 16-year excavation, noted that the perforated cylinders might have been attached to objects or vessels to convey information. Without the means to decipher the symbols, the exact purpose remains speculative.

The discovery was made in one of the best-preserved tombs at the site, which also contained six skeletons and an array of Early Bronze Age artefacts. Carbon-14 dating techniques confirmed the age of the tomb and its contents.

Impact on Understanding of Alphabet Origins

Previously, it was widely believed that the alphabet was first developed around 1900 BCE in Egypt. However, these new findings suggest that alphabetic systems may have originated earlier and in a different region. According to Dr Schwartz, this evidence challenges long-held assumptions about how and where alphabets emerged, indicating that societies in Syria were experimenting with innovative communication technologies earlier than previously understood.

Details of the findings will be presented by Dr Schwartz at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Overseas Research, offering further insights into the role of alphabetic writing in the development of early urban civilisations.

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Blue Origin’s NS-28 Carries the 100th Woman in Space, Makes Safe Landing

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November 25, 2024

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Blue Origin’s NS-28 Carries the 100th Woman in Space, Makes Safe Landing

Emily Calandrelli, an advocate for STEM education and an aerospace engineer, made history on November 22, 2024, as the 100th woman to travel to space. The flight, conducted by Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, took off and landed at the company’s West Texas facility. This suborbital journey carried six civilian passengers and reached a peak altitude of 106 kilometres, surpassing the Kármán line, which is considered the boundary of space.

Significance of Calandrelli’s Flight

The ten-minute mission aboard Blue Origin’s NS-28, included approximately four minutes of weightlessness. It marked Blue Origin’s ninth human spaceflight, with Calandrelli accompanied by Marc and Sharon Hagle, a couple on their second Blue Origin mission; Austin Litteral, whose participation was sponsored by Whatnot, a livestream shopping platform; J.D. Russell, a former game warden and entrepreneur; and Hank Wolfond, a Canadian investment firm CEO.

Emily Calandrelli, known as “The Space Gal” online, expressed her lifelong ambition to inspire young women in STEM fields. Her journey, she stated, was a culmination of years of study in aerospace engineering and her mission to bring representation to girls in science and technology. Among her personal items was a photo montage of the 99 women who flew before her, acknowledging their contributions to paving the way.

Reflecting on the experience, Calandrelli described the view from space as profoundly moving, likening the emotional intensity to the birth of her children. The mission’s logo incorporated a figure in pink overalls to symbolise her achievement, further emphasising her role as a STEM advocate.

Notable Aspects of the Flight

Blue Origin’s reusable “RSS First Step” spacecraft carried the crew safely back to Earth after the booster’s engine-assisted vertical landing. The flight builds on Blue Origin’s efforts to expand civilian access to space. Calandrelli’s achievement also places her among 714 individuals who have reached space, as recorded by the Association of Space Explorers.

The cost of Calandrelli’s seat was funded through multiple sponsors, enabling her participation while providing opportunities to promote STEM education. This historic flight marks a significant step in representation for women in space exploration.

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First-Ever Zoomed-in Image of a Dying Star Beyond Our Galaxy Captured

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November 25, 2024

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First-Ever Zoomed-in Image of a Dying Star Beyond Our Galaxy Captured

For the first time, astronomers have captured a detailed image of a star beyond the Milky Way, revealing surprising features. The star, WOH G64, lies around 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. The image, obtained using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), offers insights into the final stages of the star’s life. Keiichi Ohnaka, an astronomer at Universidad Andrés Bello in Santiago, Chile, led the research, published on 21 November in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Details of WOH G64 and Its Surroundings

WOH G64 is an enormous star, approximately 1,500 times larger than the Sun. It appears surrounded by a hazy, yellow, egg-shaped cocoon, believed to consist of gas and dust emitted by the star, as per the study. The VLTI combined data from four telescopes to create the detailed image, overcoming the limitations of individual instruments. This marks a significant achievement, as such observations would typically require a telescope over 100 metres wide.

The cocoon around the star is thought to form as material is expelled during the final stages of stellar evolution. This stage offers valuable insights into how massive stars behave before potentially exploding into supernovae.

Hints of Impending Demise

A notable observation is the star’s dimming, with recent images showing it fainter than previous records. This suggests an increase in material ejected by the star, a potential precursor to its death. “We’re seeing changes that could indicate the star’s transition towards a supernova,” Ohnaka told Science News. However, this transformation is not imminent and could take 10,000 to 100,000 years.

Attempts to obtain a second close-up image failed due to the star’s fading brightness. While some stars recover after such dimming phases, WOH G64 may continue to weaken, providing researchers with rare clues about stellar evolution in other galaxies.

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IISc’s Pravriddhi Accelerator Programme for Innovative Solutions Launched

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November 25, 2024

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IISc’s Pravriddhi Accelerator Programme for Innovative Solutions Launched

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), through its Foundation for Science, Innovation, and Development (FSID), has launched a new initiative called Pravriddhi. Announced last week, this programme aims to bridge the gap between academia, industries, and research institutions across India to foster innovation in manufacturing. Pravriddhi is designed to advance India’s self-reliance in manufacturing by promoting collaborative research and development (R&D) and enhancing global competitiveness.

Collaborative Platform for Innovation

Pravriddhi provides a collaborative platform that encourages enterprises, academic institutions, and research labs to work together on innovative solutions, as per a PTI report. The programme focuses on developing design-led, market-driven manufacturing strategies. By leveraging these partnerships, it seeks to position India as a global leader in innovation.

Professor Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc, told the publication that this initiative aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which targets India’s GDP to reach $30 trillion by 2047. Of this, 25 percent is expected to stem from manufacturing. He highlighted that challenges such as reliance on imports, global competition, and a lack of skilled professionals are significant barriers to the manufacturing sector’s growth.

Hubs of Excellence Across India

A key aspect of Pravriddhi is the establishment of specialised hubs across the country. These hubs will focus on technological advancements and facilitate R&D collaborations in diverse domains. Professor Rangarajan noted that these centres will act as drivers of progress, combining expertise from leading institutions and industries.

Through Pravriddhi, industries will gain access to IISc’s advanced facilities and resources, including cutting-edge research and a robust network of partners. The programme aims to address systemic issues in manufacturing and pave the way for sustainable growth in the sector. This initiative marks a significant step towards India’s ambition to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and achieve a globally competitive economy.

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