A new analysis of a vase from ancient Egypt has revealed what we think everyone already knew: ancient Egyptians loved their psychedelics. The vase, fashioned in the likeness of the Egyptian party god Bes, contains a heady cocktail of hallucinogens and other mind-altering substances. The study, headed up by Professor Davide Tanasi of the University
On November 6th 2024 Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States for the second time, only the second President in history to win non-consecutive terms. Many of the impartial observers of the election result view this as a win not for American democracy, not even for the Republic Party, but for one
The wheel and axle is among the most important invention in human history. It transformed our ability to carry heavy loads, allowing for the large-scale transportation of goods from farmlands to cities. It directly supported the rise of urban centers, and through them the birth of civilization. Traditionally it has been thought that the wheel
Islam was a religion which owed its rapid success to conquest. From 622 AD and led by Muhammed himself, Muslim armies swept across the Middle East and unified Arabia into a single entity. The greatest adversary they faced in their sweep eastward was mighty Persia. This ancient and venerable culture of fire worshippers had dominated
Urim and Thummim are an enigma, both at the same time a vital central aspect of the Bible and almost willfully obscure. In a narrative where God appears regularly but only when He chooses, they seem to be a way for the Hebrews of David’s kingdom to call Him directly. This could be useful, as
It is March, 1942, and the US is reeling from the Japanese surprise attack on her surface fleet at Pearl Harbor three months before. A lone, Clemson-class destroyer, the USS Edsall, crosses the Indian Ocean headed for Tjilatjap, the only deep-water port on the island of Java. The Edsall is far from cutting edge. Launched