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Winston Churchill Had a Doctor’s Note To Drink Unlimited Alcohol While Visiting the U.S. During Prohibition

Regina Sienra — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:35:45 +0000

Winston Churchill Had a Doctor’s Note To Drink Unlimited Alcohol While Visiting the U.S. During Prohibition

Photo: United Nations Information Office, New York via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Winston Churchill is best remembered for leading the UK through World War II. Perhaps a lesser-known part of his legacy that predates WWII is his trip to the U.S. during the Prohibition era. In December 1931, Churchill was in his “Wilderness Years,” holding to his parliament seat but out of office. After taking heavy losses during the Great Depression, he set out on a lecture tour around the U.S. During his time in New York, he planned to visit businessman Bernard Baruch, a friend who had served as political consultant during the first World War. Running late, Churchill took a cab. As he was crossing Fifth Avenue, he was hit by a car—resulting in a head wound, a broken nose, two cracked ribs, and bruises all over his body.

After a period of hospitalization and recovery in New York, Churchill and his family left for the Bahamas for some rest. With the burden of his financial worries, he managed to reschedule many of his speaking engagements. Still dealing with the pain from the accident, Otto Pickhardt, the admitting physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, where he was treated, came to his aid with a singular prescription for alcohol.

“This is to certify that the post-accident convalescence of the Hon. Winston S. Churchill necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits especially at meal times,” wrote Pickhardt. “The quantity is naturally indefinite but the minimum requirements would be 250 cubic centimeters.” A note in pencil reads: “Keep on hand,” likely to get around the restrictions promptly.

This particular prescription has made it into history books, but alcohol prescriptions were not rare during Prohibition. It was common for doctors to recommend alcohol before and during this era, and alcohol was readily available at drugstores. Physicians wrote an estimated 11 million prescriptions a year throughout the 1920s, and many bootleggers even bought prescription forms from doctors.

Prohibition was lifted in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment. This made it the only time in American history in which a constitutional amendment was passed for the purpose of repealing another. As for Churchill, he was quick to notice the menace of Hitler's regime, and became Prime Minister in 1940—becoming a key player in the allies' victory in World War II.

A trip to New York made Winston Churchill part of the history of the Prohibition era.

Photo: Yousuf Karsh via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Dealing with the painful aftermath of being hit by a car, he was prescribed “alcoholic spirits especially at meal times,” by his doctor.

Photo: C. Pickardt Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: Winston Churchill Had a Doctor’s Note To Drink Unlimited Alcohol While Visiting the U.S. During Prohibition

Explore 870,000 Items in the New York Public Library Online Archives

Madeleine Muzdakis — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 15:45:17 +0000

Explore 870,000 Items in the New York Public Library Online Archives

Sketches by 19th-century artist Ariyoshi Kondo. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

Before the internet, the New York Public Library was one of the largest repositories of human knowledge in the world. People could call in and ask their random questions to experienced librarians, long before people pulled out their phones to use Google search. But the library has kept up with modern times, making books available for digital rental and providing a wealth of online resources for consultations by the curious. They have opened their historic archives as well, presenting a digital collection of over 870,000 books, documents, and photographs. The public can search, download images, and learn more about the history of New York and the world.

The collections are incredibly vast, with new items being added every day. The collections include local treasures: photographs of the outer boroughs, 19th-century views of the streets, inspections of tenements, and Lewis Hine‘s incredibly impactful documentary shots of a working-class, changing New York. The collection goes well beyond photographs to include personal papers of luminaries such as Alexander Hamilton, fashion sketches from designers, and scientific and medical illustrations. There are records of the LGBTQ rights movement and posters from across political history, antique maps and government photographs.

This incredible archive is ever changing and expanding to keep up with the tides of history. There is something for everyone, whether you love Broadway shows or the gritty West Village of yore. If your passion is Civil War history or the founding period, there's something for you. Beyond even NYPL's incredibly impressive offerings, there are countless other internet repositories which make it possible to pursue any passion you desire. Archives of children's books, classical music, European art, the works of Da Vinci, and even coloring books are available. In the NYPL Digital Collections, you can even order art prints of any media you love, to bring a piece of the collections home.

The New York Public Library, an incredible resource and a repository of history, has made an online archive of over 870,000 documents and books available to the public.

Illuminated manuscript from the 10th century. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

These include collections of Black children's literature, medieval illuminated manuscripts, and countless photos of old New York.

A cyanotype by Anna Atkins. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

The Lamport Export Company, 507-511 Broadway, in 1935. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

Historical views of E. 15th St. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

Map of North American from 1694. (Photo: NYPL Digital Collections, Public Domain)

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: Explore 870,000 Items in the New York Public Library Online Archives

Renaissance Master Leonard Da Vinci Wrote One of the Earliest Known Resumés

Madeleine Muzdakis — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:55:25 +0000

Renaissance Master Leonard Da Vinci Wrote One of the Earliest Known Resumés

Leonardo da Vinci's “resumé” letter to Ludovico Sforza, 1482. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Applying for jobs has always been stressful. Even Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius who was a master in everything from painting to inventing, must have felt the pressure too. Early in his career, before the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, the legendary artist was still building his reputation. He had to seek work from the wealthy, noble patrons of Italy. His efforts left behind a fascinating letter, which can be regarded as one of the earliest extant resumés. The letter was written in 1482 to Ludovico Sforza, the future Duke of Milan, and it lists the many skills of the ingenious artist. It includes highlights appealing to the Italian nobility of the day, such as designing machines for sea battles and engineering sturdy bridges.

Da Vinci, who was born in 1452, was only thirty years old when he wrote the letter. Lacking a formal education, he taught himself Latin and math. While he is best remembered today for his paintings, his scientific writings and inventions actually occupied most of his time. His extensive notebooks are full of anatomical studies and tightly written notes. It was these studies that Da Vinci thought were most marketable to his noble clientele. One of whom was Sforza, who took the throne of Milan 12 years after the letter.

Such a nobleman could use the skills of an engineer. Da Vinci made sure that Sforza knew he had studied all sorts of structures, and was well-informed in bridge building. He offered models for inspection, and he even offered to demonstrate any of his enumerated talents at the gentleman's earliest convenience. Most of the skills professed were in the realm of war. These included: “methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on rock,” “how to dry up the water of the moats and how to construct an infinite number of bridges,” “fling small stones almost resembling a storm,” and “mak[ing] covered vehicles, safe and unassailable.” He concluded, “In short, whatever the situation, I can invent an infinite variety of machines for both attack and defense.” As an afterthought, Da Vinci also added his artistic abilities, which would of course eventually make him one of the world's most famous artists.

You can read the full text of the resumé here.

Even Renaissance master and polymath Leonardo da Vinci had to apply for jobs with a resumé.

A presumed self-portrait of the artist circa 1512. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

In 1482, he wrote a letter to Ludovico Sforza, the future Duke of Milan, and listed his many skills.

A study of horses, circa 1590. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

These included: “methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on rock,” and “how to dry up the water of the moats and how to construct an infinite number of bridges.”

The Lady with an Ermine (Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani), circa 1490. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: Renaissance Master Leonard Da Vinci Wrote One of the Earliest Known Resumés

Insightful Animated Video Sums up 4.5 Billion Years of Earth’s History in 60 Minutes

Regina Sienra — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 15:45:56 +0000

Insightful Animated Video Sums up 4.5 Billion Years of Earth’s History in 60 Minutes

Photo: studio023/Depositphotos

Earth is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. But even though scientists have closed in on our planet's age, it can be difficult to fully grasp such an astronomical number. To help us understand Earth's history, YouTube channel Kurzgesagt has released an animated video chronicling how everything has evolved since our planet was first formed.

At 60 minutes-long, each second of the video represents about 1 million years. Rather than being action packed or filled with facts, the pace stays true to its illustrative mission, showcasing how long it took for our planet to look like it does today. This also emphasizes life as we know it has been around for such a short amount of time. Dinosaurs appear around the 58 minute mark, while mankind is only featured in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment at the very end.

But that doesn't make it a tedious video whatsoever. The vibrant colors and upbeat music enhance the detailed animations that tell the story. While its creators have described it as the “perfect background for your next party, a great way to take a break from studying, or a fascinating companion while you’re on the go,” the amount of work put into the video deserves one's attention. The hypnotizing visuals alone are worth a watch at least once and, should you do it, you'll walk away with a lesson in the history of the place we all call home.

You can watch the video below, and visit Kurzgesagt's YouTube channel to watch more insightful animations.

Kurzgesagt has released an animated video chronicling Earth's history. At 60 minutes-long, each second of the video represents about 1 million years.

Kurzgesagt: Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [Kottke]

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READ: Insightful Animated Video Sums up 4.5 Billion Years of Earth’s History in 60 Minutes

Before Google, People Asked Public Librarians Their Questions

Madeleine Muzdakis — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 17:35:24 +0000

Before Google, People Asked Public Librarians Their Questions

What do you do when you have a question? These days most people turn to the Google search bar. But back in the 20th century, knowledgeable people were the search bars and libraries full of books were the internet. If you had a question in 1966, you could call your local librarian and ask them to point you in the direction of the best resource. The New York Public Library hotline was established in 1967, but even before that curious citizens called with queries. Many of these questions were recorded by the librarians, and they include some amusing and random insights into people's quests for information.

The questions are recorded on small cards like those that used to fill card catalogs. Typed on a typewriter or scrawled in loopy handwriting, the questions are sometimes notated alongside their answers. People asked a variety of things. In 1963, someone whose identity has been lost to history asked, “Any statistics on the life span of the abandoned woman?” One can only imagine the story behind the question. Other questions clearly were inspired by recent events. On May 27, 1947, a caller asked, “What does it mean when you dream you’re being chased by an elephant?” No answer is given on that card.

Other questions have a bit of a creepy undertone. On November 30, 1948, someone asked, “Where can I get all available statistics on volume of business, money involved, etc. in the sale of cadavers?” If the librarian asked follow up questions it was not recorded. In 1976, an art lover asked, “Why do 18th century English paintings have so many squirrels in them, and how did they tame them so that they wouldn't bite the painter?” One can only hope the librarian cautioned the caller about domesticating squirrels. Other questions are much more practical, like: “Off-hand, do you happen to know a really good book about having twins?”

Is the squirrel query a stupid question? “There are no stupid questions,” NYPL Librarian Rosa Caballero-Li says. “Everything is a teachable moment. We don't embarrass people; we try to answer any questions they have with honesty and we try to refer them to appropriate resources that they might find useful.” The NYPL still offers their ask-a-librarian call in service, which despite the existence of Google gets 30,000 questions a year. “We don't know everything,” Caballero-Li told NPR, “But we can always point you in the right direction.” To get those burning questions answered, about squirrels or anything else, call 917-275-6975 between 9 am and 6 pm EST on business days.

Before there was Google, people had to rely on their local library to have their questions answered.

If you had a question in 1966, you could call your local librarian and ask them to point you in the direction of the best resource.

The New York Public Library hotline was established in 1967, but even before that curious citizens called with queries.

Many of these questions were recorded by the librarians, and they include some amusing and random insights into people's quests for information.

The questions are recorded on small cards like those that used to fill card catalogs

People asked a variety of things.

“There are no stupid questions,” NYPL Librarian Rosa Caballero-Li says. “Everything is a teachable moment.”

“We don't embarrass people; we try to answer any questions they have with honesty and we try to refer them to appropriate resources that they might find useful.”

h/t: [Amusing Planet]

All images are courtesy of the New York Public Library.

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READ: Before Google, People Asked Public Librarians Their Questions

West Point Opens 200-Year-Old Time Capsule and Uncovers Six Silver Early American Coins

Madeleine Muzdakis — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 18:30:30 +0000

West Point Opens 200-Year-Old Time Capsule and Uncovers Six Silver Early American Coins

The time capsule discovered in the statue base. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

West Point is known as a prestigious military academy, producing many of the nation's generals since its founding in 1802. Known officially as the United States Military Academy, it can also count two American presidents among its alumni. Such a long history is sure to come with good and bad moments, and even a few surprises. Recently, renovations uncovered a box hidden in the base of a statue of a Revolutionary War hero. It turned out to be a time capsule that West Point later opened during an assembly with great fanfare. The interior did not yield treasures at first, only silt. However, after some sifting, six historic coins and an Erie Canal commemorative medal were uncovered.

The statue which yielded the time capsule is of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish immigrant. While not a West Point alum, he fought with the Continental Army during the Revolution. He died in 1817, and shortly afterward his statue was erected on the dime of admiring cadets. Its stone base was completed in 1828, although the column and statue atop was added in 1913. It is thought cadets tucked the time capsule into the base of the statue around 1828, and its existence remained unknown for almost 200 years. It is still unclear why the capsule was hidden in the first place.

The find greatly excited the university, which began to hype a ceremonial first opening to be filmed and presented on stage. Current students speculated what might be inside. However, when Paul Hudson, a West Point archaeologist, opened the box the waiting crowd received a disappointing news flash. “We don’t want to think that they went to all of this trouble to put this box in the monument and not put anything in it,” he said. But it required detailed lab work to eventually discover what else the box might held apart from the obvious pile of silt that may have once been something organic, such as paper.

Sifting carefully through the silt with wire, Hudson and his team found six silver early American coins. They date from 1795 to 1828. There was also a small medal from 1826 that commemorated the finishing of the Erie Canal's construction in 1825. A pivotal moment in United States history, the canal connected the great waterways of the northeast to produce thriving industrial centers across upstate New York and fill the bustling ports of New York City, down the Hudson River. The coins and the medals were clearly chosen for the time capsule for their meaning to the historic cadets. Brigadier general Shane Reeves, a dean, said in a statement, “There is no better opportunity to take a moment and be inspired by our Army and academy’s connection through time that is represented by that capsule and one of our nation’s true heroes.”

A 200-year-old time capsule found in a West Point statue turned out to be full of silt and surprises.

A historic coin found in the silt inside the time capsule. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

Eventually, six coins from the late 18th and early 19th centuries emerged, along with a medal.

The statue of Thaddeus Kościuszko. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

The dedication to the Revolutionary War
hero. (Photo: United States Military Academy)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

All images via United States Military Academy.

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READ: West Point Opens 200-Year-Old Time Capsule and Uncovers Six Silver Early American Coins

Antique Map Acquired at Estate Sale Turns Out to Be an Extremely Rare 14th-Century Portolan Chart

Regina Sienra — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:45:44 +0000

Antique Map Acquired at Estate Sale Turns Out to Be an Extremely Rare 14th-Century Portolan Chart

Over the last few years, we've heard about mind-boggling finds in thrift stores and estate sales. The tale always features someone spotting an unassuming work of art, taking it home, only to then realize it is worth much more than what they originally paid for it. As thrilling as those stories are, none come close to the 14th-century portolan chart that is now under the care of Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. Not only did it turn out to be significantly older and more valuable than originally thought, but it was also a museum-ready piece that can offer revolutionary insight into the history of maps.

“Portolan charts represent the birth of mapmaking as a modern person would understand it; that is, an attempt to visually represent geography with primary attention paid to spatial accuracy,” map dealer Alex Clausen, who spotted the map at an estate sale for Ann and Gordon Getty, tells My Modern Met. Thought to have been created around 1500 and 1525, Clausen and his team paid $239,000 for the map at a Christie's auction.

As for the valuation of the antique, there were some hints that pointed to the map being significantly older than its listing information indicated. “The chart had some obvious idiosyncrasies that made the date ascribed by the auction house very unlikely, if not impossible,” explains Clausen. “The first was the Muslim flag at Granada in southern Spain. This made it very likely that the chart was from before 1493. As we got better images, we saw more and more details that pushed the chart back earlier and earlier.”

To get to the bottom of this, Clausen and the team at Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps devoted hundreds of hours to unravel each element on the map. “The primary challenge was that we ended up in an era (the 14th century) where there is little in the way of cartographic context. There are only three earlier charts of this scope, in the decades after our chart was completed, there were similarly few charts. This makes comparison and contrast more difficult than if we were dealing with dozens or hundreds of maps.”

By the end of the journey, the team concluded that the map actually dated to 1360. “This is the fourth-oldest such chart, and it belongs to a unique and previously unstudied lineage of charts,” Clausen notes. “As such, it provides a revelatory window on the earliest modern mapmaking.” The portolan chart's estimated worth is now $7.5 million.

For all the ancient maps that they have come across, a portolan chart of such antiquity was something out of their wildest dreams. “We had long understood that it was possible that, in our careers, we would handle portolan charts from the 16th century, and, if we were very lucky, we might handle one from the 15th century,” shares Clausen. “Barry and I knew that handling a complete 14th-century chart was out of the question for modern map dealers. Such maps did not even appear in commerce 100-200 years ago when antiquarian treasures were somewhat more common, so, in the 21st century, there was little point in hoping to own such a thing. When we confidently established the chart's age, it was in many ways the culmination of our careers and our lifetime passions.”

But that's not the end of the road. Not only is the map unique, but, according to Clausen, it seems to sit outside of any previously known schools of mapmaking. Any one of the data points might influence future research. As such, their hope is for it to be further studied, and then shared with the world. “We intend to sell the chart to a suitable buyer,” Clausen shares. “We hope it goes to an institution or private collection where it will be available to scholars for further study and to the general public for appreciation.”

Map dealer Alex Clausen spotted an antique map known as a portolan chart during an estate sale. Thought to have been created around 1500 and 1525, Clausen and his team paid $239,000 for the map at a Christie's auction.

However, Clausen explains, “The chart had some obvious idiosyncrasies that made the date ascribed by the auction house very unlikely, if not impossible.”

The Portolan Chart on display at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. (Photo: Alex Clausen)

After hundreds of hours of research, the team concluded that the map actually dated to 1360. The portolan chart's estimated worth is now $7.5 million.

Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc., except where noted. All images of the Portolan were captured by the BLR Maps Imaging Team through a series of 600 dpi scans, stitched raking-light photography and stitched photo-microscopy.

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READ: Antique Map Acquired at Estate Sale Turns Out to Be an Extremely Rare 14th-Century Portolan Chart

42 New Sites Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

Jessica Stewart — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:45:05 +0000

42 New Sites Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

Waterfall in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. (Photo: G.R. Vande weghe via UNESCO (CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO)

This year, UNESCO has added 42 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list, bringing the total up to 1,199 landmarks across 168 countries. Selected for their historical or cultural significance, these sites will now benefit from the highest level of cultural protection, as well as access to financial assistance from UNESCO.

2023's selections include 33 cultural sites and nine natural sites. Thanks to five new inscribed sites, Africa has now passed a milestone. The continent is now home to 100 World Heritage Sites, and countries like Rwanda saw themselves added to the list for the first time. With the inclusion of Nyungwe National Park and the genocide memorial sites at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi, and Bisesero, the East African nation has two sites inscribed on the list.

In addition to adding new during its session, the World Heritage Committee also makes close evaluations of all World Heritage monuments to ensure their preservation. Following an ambitious restoration project, Uganda's Tombs of the Buganda Kings at Kasubi was removed from the World Heritage in Danger list. Unfortunately, two sites in Ukraine—Saint Sophia's Cathedral and complex of monastic and Lavra buildings in Kyiv-Pechersk and the ensemble of the historic center in Lviv—were added to the list due to the risk of shelling. Inclusion in the list will open the doors to critical technical and financial support for these sites at risk.

Check out some of the incredible sites added to this year's list and explore the full list on UNESCO's website.

Here are 6 of the 42 exceptional sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Gaya Tumuli (Republic of Korea)

Gaya Tumuli, Republic of Korea (Photo: Seo Heun Kang via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This serial property includes archaeological cemetery sites with burial mounds attributed to the Gaya Confederacy, which developed in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from the 1st to the 6th century CE. Through their geographical distribution and landscape characteristics, types of burials, and grave goods, the cemeteries attest to the distinctive Gaya political system in which polities existed as autonomous political equals while sharing cultural commonalities. The introduction of new forms of tombs and the intensification of the spatial hierarchy in the tumuli sites reflect the structural changes experienced by Gaya society during its history. (Description via UNESCO)

The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (Thailand)

The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments, Thailand (Photo: The Fine Arts Department via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This massive complex includes an Inner and Outer Town surrounded by moats, the massive Khao Klang Nok ancient monument, and the Khao Thamorrat Cave ancient monument. Together these sites represent the architecture, artistic traditions and religious diversity of the Dvaravati Empire that thrived in Central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th centuries, demonstrating the influences from India. The local adaptation of these traditions resulted in a distinctive artistic tradition known as the Si Thep School of Art which later influenced other civilizations in Southeast Asia. (Description via UNESCO)

Winter Deserts of Turan (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Photo: O. Kugaev via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

This transnational property comprises fourteen component parts found across arid areas of Central Asia’s temperate zone between the Caspian Sea and the Turanian high mountains. The area is subject to extreme climatic conditions with very cold winters and hot summers and boasts an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna that has adapted to the harsh conditions. The property also represents a considerable diversity of desert ecosystems, spanning a distance of more than 1,500 kilometers from East to West. Each of the component parts complements the others in terms of biodiversity, desert types, and ongoing ecological processes.
(Description via UNESCO)

National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj (Guatemala)

National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj, Guatemala (Photo: National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

Tak’alik Ab’aj is an archaeological site located on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Its 1,700-year history spans a period that saw the transition from the Olmec civilization to the emergence of Early Mayan culture. Tak’alik Ab’aj had a primary role in this transition, in part because it was vital to the long-distance trade route that connected the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in today's Mexico to present-day El Salvador. Ideas and customs were shared extensively along this route. Sacred spaces and buildings were laid out according to cosmological principles, and innovative water management systems, ceramics, and lapidary art can be found. Today, Indigenous groups of different affiliations still consider the site a sacred place and visit it to perform rituals.
(Description via UNESCO)

Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker (Netherlands)

Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker, Netherlands. (Photo: Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium via UNESCO (Nomination File (non exclusive cession of rights: yes))

Built between 1774 and 1781, this property is a moving mechanical scale model of the solar system as it was known at the time. Conceived and built by an ordinary citizen—the wool manufacturer Eise Eisinga—the model is built into the ceiling and south wall of the former living room/bedroom of its creator. Powered by one single pendulum clock, it provides a realistic image of the positions of the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and five other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The planets revolve around the Sun in real-time, and the distance between the planets is at scale. The model fills the entire ceiling of the room, making it one of the earliest predecessors of the ceiling and projection planetariums of the 20th and 21st centuries.
(Description via UNESCO)

Anticosti (Canada)

Situated on the island of Anticosti, the largest island in Quebec, this property is the most complete and best preserved paleontological record of the first mass extinction of animal life, 447-437 million years ago. It contains the best preserved fossil record of marine life, covering 10 million years of Earth's history. The abundance, diversity, and exquisite preservation of the fossils are exceptional and allow for world-class scientific work. Thousands of large bedding surfaces allow the observation and study of shell and sometimes soft-bodied animals that lived on the shallow sea floor of an ancient tropical sea.
(Description via UNESCO)

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READ: 42 New Sites Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

AI Is Used To Share What Ancient Languages Sounded Like

Margherita Cole — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:45:37 +0000

AI Is Used To Share What Ancient Languages Sounded Like

Most students study at least one other language in school. While most learn French or Spanish—popular languages that are commonly spoken today—some may choose to study a “dead language” like Latin. Learning an ancient language, however, can be a strange endeavor for many people, since in many cases, it is unclear what the pronunciation was for words. Well, a YouTube channel called Equator AI seeks to demystify history by using AI to bring ancient languages to life.

Their videos feature artificially created portraits of people dressed in the clothing from different eras who recite ancient texts in the most likely pronunciation. While it is hard to be completely certain about how some of these languages were spoken, the clips do help these distant cultures feel much more real. In addition to Latin and Ancient Greek, their videos include Old English, Akkadian, Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian, Phoenician, and Etruscan.

One of their videos displays the written text that the AI characters are reading on one side of the screen, so those who are familiar with the written version (or people who are curious about the written text) can follow along. People in the comments were quick to point out the familiarity between some ancient languages and their modern descendant. “The [ancient] Greek at the end is actually quite easy to understand. He speaks to us from almost two thousand years ago, and still sounds like someone we met today,” comments one person. Another writes, “Latin sounds really cool the way it is pronounced here as a Proto-Italic language. At school we learned and spoke it not so rhythmically, stiffer.”

However, not all of the ancient languages sound so familiar. Old English—which some might expect to be easier to understand—sounds dramatically different to what is spoken today. One of the reasons for this startling change is the Great Vowel Shift, which took place between 1400 and 1700. During this time, English speakers altered the pronunciation of their long vowels as well as some consonant sounds.

Scroll down to see more educational videos, and be sure to subscribe to Equator AI's YouTube channel for more.

YouTube channel Equator AI brings ancient languages to life using artificial intelligence.

Latin, Ancient Greek, Old English, and many other languages are spoken in these fascinating videos.

Equator AI: YouTube
h/t: [IFL Science]

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Margherita Cole — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:15:22 +0000