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A vast network of irrigation canals, dating back more than 3,000 years, has been identified in southern Iraq. The canals, which were used to transport water from the Euphrates River, are believed to have supported agricultural activities in the Eridu region before the first millennium B.C. Researchers have mapped thousands of these channels, some stretching up to 9 kilometres, shedding light on the sophisticated water management systems of ancient Mesopotamia. The discovery provides crucial insights into early farming practices and how settlements adapted to environmental changes.

Findings from the Study

According to a study published in Antiquity, over 200 major canals and more than 4,000 smaller channels were identified using satellite imagery, drone surveys, and geological mapping. The researchers, including geographer Jaafar Jotheri from the University of Al-Qadisiyah, noted that the system was extensive, but not all canals were in use simultaneously. The network evolved over centuries, adjusting to shifts in the Euphrates River’s course. Evidence of around 700 farms was also documented, indicating a highly organised agricultural landscape.

Impact of River Changes on Settlements

As per the research, the canals became obsolete when the Euphrates River changed course, leaving the region uninhabited after the early first millennium B.C. This shift preserved the canal traces, allowing researchers to study them in detail. The findings highlight how water availability dictated settlement patterns in ancient Mesopotamia. The study’s authors emphasised that the irrigation network played a crucial role in sustaining early civilisations but was ultimately affected by natural environmental shifts.

Significance of the Discovery

As reported, experts believe the discovery offers a rare glimpse into how ancient societies managed large-scale irrigation. The research team, which included academics from Durham University, stressed that the findings demonstrate the ingenuity of early farmers in adapting to their environment. The study contributes to understanding ancient Mesopotamian infrastructure and its long-term impact on agricultural development in the region.

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Ancient Praise for Pharaoh Ramesses II Found on Paris Obelisk, Egyptologist Claims

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May 5, 2025

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Ancient Praise for Pharaoh Ramesses II Found on Paris Obelisk, Egyptologist Claims

An Egyptologist claims that he has accidentally found a series of secret hieroglyphic inscriptions on an iconic 3300-year-old Egyptian obelisk in Paris. This inscriptions are claimed to be meant for Egypt’s nobility, and they are likely propaganda praising the famous pharaoh Ramesses II to be ordained by the divine entities. Apparently, the pharaoh himself commissioned this obelisk at the beginning of his rule, and it originally stood outside of the Luxor temple in upper Egypt alongside another similar obelisk. Both monuments were later gifted to France by Pasha Muhammed Ali, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire.a series of secret hieroglyphic inscriptions on an iconic 3300-year-old Egyptian obelisk in Paris.

Discovery of the hidden inscription

According to a comment published by Sciences et Avenir from Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, the Egyptologist from the Institut Catholique de Paris, the hieroglyphs indicated the entrance to the Luxor Temple portico. He discovered that there was no literature discussing the different scenes, so he studied the images from afar. He eventually discovered that the obelisk contained hieroglyphic cryptographies or hidden messages. These encrypted texts were often secret texts inserted into hieroglyphs or hidden in 3D carvings. Only the elite could decipher these hidden messages.

The hidden messages on the “Seine side” of the obelisk could only be read at a 45° angle. Olette-Pelletier discovered that the hidden messages were intended to be seen by nobles arriving by boat at the temple of Luxor during the annual Opet festival, celebrating the return of the life forces of the god Amun.

Further studies and criticism

According to Olette-Pelletier, he has discovered other concealed messages on the obelisk. He pointed out, for example, that there are two rows of hieroglyphs that, depending on how they are read, might convey several meanings, such as stating that Ramesses II had endless life or writing out his whole royal name.

The findings are set to be published in the journal Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne. However, scholars who were not involved in the research have urged caution in interpreting the findings, as they will not be able to review them in depth until the study is published. Egyptology professor Filip Taterka told Live Science that the inscriptions and imagery near the top of the obelisk would not have been visible to a noble person traveling by boat on the Nile.

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NASA’s New Space Telescope Starts Mapping to Reveal Universe’s Deep Mysteries



Motorola Edge 70 Render Surfaces with Minimal Design Changes; Could Get Dimensity 7000 Series Chip

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NASA’s New Space Telescope Starts Mapping to Reveal Universe’s Deep Mysteries

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May 5, 2025

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NASA’s New Space Telescope Starts Mapping to Reveal Universe’s Deep Mysteries

NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has started capturing 3,600 distinct images every day as it maps the cosmos. Beginning with its launch on March 11, it will make more than 11,000 orbits over two years, circling Earth 14 and half times a day. The mission will produce four all-sky maps in two years, revealing clues into cosmic inflation and the expansion of the universe. The observatory will also map the entire sky in 102 infrared wavelengths of light, providing information about cosmic sources.

SPHEREx Telescope Exceeds Early Goals, Begins Mapping Universe in 3D Infrared Detail

As per a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory report, SPHEREx is already meeting performance expectations, rotating its orientation through reaction wheels rather than traditional thrusters. The telescope captures six different images, catching light in several infrared wavelengths with every exposure. Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting head of NASA’s astrophysics division, underlined how the mission supports upcoming projects such as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. SPHEREx’s spinning view of the sky also allows it to cover the entire sky every six months and therefore conduct four complete surveys over its two-year lifetime.

SPHEREx will employ spectroscopy to measure the distance between galaxies, creating a 3D cosmic map and revealing how water on Earth came to be and the role interstellar clouds played in the creation of the chemicals necessary for life. It is aimed at more than nine million measurements of the Milky Way, revealing the influence of the environment on cosmic chemistry. As per mission principal investigator Jamie Bock, some team members have worked for over a decade toward this milestone, and the mission could exceed its original scientific goals.

NASA’s SPHEREx observations could show signs of cosmic inflation, which powered the expansion of the universe after the Big Bang. These tendencies could expose the structure and history of the universe as well as those of stars and galaxies. Headed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of NASA at Caltech in the USA, SPHEREx is under a worldwide cooperation agreement comprising South Korea and Taiwan. Data analysis investigates the universe downward, closer.

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Soviet Venus Probe Cosmos 482 Expected to Reenter Earth After 52 Years in Orbit

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May 5, 2025

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Soviet Venus Probe Cosmos 482 Expected to Reenter Earth After 52 Years in Orbit

An Soviet Union lander is heading back into Earth’s atmosphere after 52 years staying in the orbit. Soviet Union’s Cosmos 482 was launched on March 31, 1972 and was supposed to land on Venus under the U.S.S.R.’s Venera programme. However, due to a certain malfunction, it could not leave Earth’s orbit and kept rotating around for 52 years. Its body was split into two halves; the main one crashed back to Earth, and the other section, the lander, got trapped in the Earth’s orbit.

Lander Returns to Earth

According to study, the lander is re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere and is expected to come back between May 8 to May 14. The most probable date is May 11, calculated based on the orbital data provided by satellite expert Marco Langbroek. This crash landing could occur anywhere between 52 degrees north and south of the equator, roughly from Quebec to Patagonia. According to NASA, the lander weighs around 1100 pounds, the weight of a car.

What Does it Look Like

This lander was designed to survive the way through the atmosphere of Venus, so there might be a possibility that it can survive the reentry into Earth’s atmosphere and remain intact with possibly no impact. However, the risks are not too high, but still not negligible, said Langbroek while speaking to Live Science.

Ralf Vandebergh, the advanced astrographer, used a camera attached to the telescope for tracking the orbiting satellites. Some images reveal that it might be the released parachute of the Cosmos 482, however, there is still no certainty, as it is surprising if the parachute will still work after so many years.

Cosmos 482 as Sister Probe to Venera 8

Cosmos 482 was built after Venera 8 as a sister probe. However, Venera 8 became the second craft to land on the hot surface of Venus during the same year, 1972. It beamed data from Venus for 50 minutes before getting burned by the scorching heat of Venus.

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AI Researchers Secretly Used Reddit to Test Chatbot Persuasion



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