​In ancient times, the world was much more interconnected than you think ● Paleontologists still make mistakes, but it’s nice that they admit ● Super processed food makes you stupid

In ancient times, the world was much more interconnected than you imagine

The discovery in 2016 of a 2,500-year-old mummification workshop in Saqqara was a real shock, in a good sense of the word, for Egyptologists around the world. And that’s because the discovery brought new information that makes us think twice when we talk about the world of the ancient Egyptians.

Firstly, the excellent preservation of the workshop and its inventory allowed specialists to find out not only what such a room looked like, but also what substances were used in the mummification process and, above all, how. It was not too difficult between us, either, as the vessels of all kinds of substances were not only labeled with a name, but also with the part of the body where they were to be used. It’s not quite an instruction manual, but it’s close.

What surprised him was that some of the vessels were inscribed with names that also appeared in other Egyptian texts but had not been translated. For example, “Antiu”. No one knew what it was until the composition of the vessel with such an inscription was analyzed. It turned out to be a substance based on animal fat, cedar oil, juniper resin, and others that have not yet been identified. An opportunity for specialists to enrich their knowledge about the process of mummification.

However, of particular interest were the contents of some vessels containing resins from trees that grow exclusively in Southeast Asia, respectively through the Philippines. The fact that such resins were used for mummification shows us some extremely interesting aspects. First, the Egyptians learned their qualities over time, not just 2500 years, because they used them that way.

Second, they had a constant and consistent source of supply for exactly the same reasons. Last but not least, although trade between regions such as ancient Egypt and the Philippines seemed unlikely, it not only existed, but even had a tradition. And if that doesn’t show us that at least 2,500 years ago the world was very interconnected, much more active and open to sharing, then we don’t know what could.

Paleontologists are still wrong, but it’s nice that they admit it

It is human nature to make mistakes. Or, if you prefer, only those who don’t work don’t make mistakes. This also applies to a team of American paleontologists from the University of Oregon, paleontologists who just two years ago announced an exceptional discovery in India, namely the first Ediacaran animal ever discovered in this part of the world. Let’s explain!

The Ediacaran is a relatively new geological era (no – 1990) that precedes the Cambrian (538.8 – 485.4 million years ago). And it not only preceded the Cambrian, but also changed the concept of the so-called explosion of complex life. In particular, after more than a century and a half, the origins of complex life were sent earlier, to the Ediacaran, and not to the Cambrian.

Another feature of the Ediacaran is the presence of unique life forms, invertebrate animals with a bizarre appearance, at first glance similar to plants. One of these life forms, emblematic of Ediacaria, was Dickinsonia, a leaf-like creature that ranged in size from a few millimeters to 1.4 meters.

American paleontologists also announced that they discovered such a fossil life form on a cave wall in 2020, unique to India. The problem was that a re-analysis of the fossil by a joint American-Indian team showed that most of the fossil had disappeared, as if it had been wiped with a sponge, which was really strange for a fossil.

Upon closer analysis, paleontologists realized that the first study (published in Nature, by the way) was a serious mistake. What was originally reported as a life form 550 million years ago was actually just a remnant of a wild bee hive formed in the modern period. That’s right, it still happens.

The main thing is for people to admit their mistake. They tried to push the troublemakers as best as they could, saying that analysis of the rocks showed them to be a billion years old, but that didn’t make much sense at this point, since the only traces of life on them were from modern insects.

Super processed food makes you stupid

If you have done your child’s homework and the child comes home from school with a lower grade than if he had done it himself, you may be in trouble. Check the food you eat! If you have a diet high in ultra-processed foods, you may be drawn to it. This is claimed by some experts not only in diets, but also in the study of the human brain.

And, they say, super-processed food will do a lot of damage to your brain. For example, these highly processed foods (chips, margarine, energy drinks, so-called nuggets or chicken and fish sticks, instant soups, sugary cereals, etc.) are high in sugar, lipids and salt, but they are also low in fiber and nutrients.

Basque, they are full of additives, artificial colors, synthetic flavors and such, you are mummifying yourself more like Ramses II. And it won’t be a problem that you mummify yourself from so many chemicals that you might not care anymore. The fact is that all these substances used in the body lead to a decrease in your intellectual abilities. Well, where does the brain get the necessary nutrition? From chips?

A recent study of 72,000 participants in the UK clearly showed the mentioned effects in black and white. Among the interviewees, some consumed mainly super-processed products, others did not. Of those who consumed highly processed foods, 1 in 120 were diagnosed with senile dementia in just 10 years. What can you say about the rest, where such a diagnosis was given to only one out of 170.

Between us, just the widespread consumption of such products, and this is not a sign of increased intelligence, a sign that you can agitate for nothing. But if you want to be healthy in old age and not get lower grades than your younger self, choose a healthier diet. Mediterranean ie nuts, fish, olive oil, vegetables, dairy etc would be the crème de la crème.

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