• WWW.YANKODESIGN.COM
    Witnessing the Mansory F9XX in Dubai stopped me in my tracks
    The Mansory F9XX in Dubai instantly captured my attention. Its aggressive stance and intricate details, set against the vibrant skyline, were impossible to ignore. This modified supercar showcased the heights of automotive design and performance that can be achieved when no shortcuts are taken.The F9XX takes the Ferrari SF90 Spider, already praised for its engineering and design, and turns it into something entirely new. Mansorys customization transforms the cars appearance and reshapes its identity, creating a machine that fits perfectly in a city known for bold ideas and pushing boundaries.Designer: Ferrari + MansoryThe Mansory F9XX exudes precision with its dynamic color palette. The gradient-like silver and blue tones highlight the body curves and edges, creating fluidity even while standing still. These colors, paired with forged carbon fiber, enhance the dramatic interplay of light and shadow across its surface.Front-End DramaThe Ferrari SF90 Spiders front end blends elegance with purpose, featuring clean lines, a sculpted grille, and functional cooling vents. It embodies Ferraris controlled and calculated approach to design.Mansorys F9XX tears up the rulebook. The front fascia features enlarged air intakes and an angular carbon fiber splitter that exudes confidence. The hood reworked in forged carbon, adds depth and texture, while sharper edges and additional detailing give the car an intimidating presence. The F9XXs front design isnt subtleit makes an impression that lingers.These changes arent just cosmetic. The reworked air intakes improve cooling for the engine and brakes, ensuring high performance with reliability. Mansorys aggressive design choices are functional and striking, creating a front end alive with purpose.The slanted LED headlights, combined with angular cuts around the fascia, add sharpness and modernity. This interplay of angles ensures the car looks as fast as it performs.Side ProfileFerraris SF90 Spider seamlessly combines flowing lines, a retractable hardtop, and a purposeful stance to create a silhouette thats aerodynamic and beautiful. Every element belongs, with nothing overpowering the design.Mansory disrupts this balance, redefining the cars personality with a widebody kit that adds muscle. Forged carbon side skirts and extended wheel arches create a sense of raw power. Larger, more defined vents and cooling ducts emphasize performance. Mansorys branding along the sills is subtle but reminds you this car belongs in a league of its own.The wheels, staggered at 21 inches in the front and 22 inches at the rear, complete the transformation. These custom YT.5 Air wheels are visually striking and designed for optimal road performance. The F9XX feels planted and ready to attack, whether stationary or in motion.The gradient paintwork on the side profile shifts subtly under different lighting conditions. This fluidity accentuates the dramatic contours, especially along the wide wheel arches and sculpted side vents. The design draws your eye to every intricate detail, ensuring nothing is overlooked.Rear DesignThe rear of the Ferrari SF90 Spider balances function and refinement. Its dual exhaust system and clean diffuser design maintain stability and airflow, while the integrated spoiler offers just enough flair. Its a rear design focused on aerodynamics without drawing too much attention.Mansorys F9XX ignores subtlety. The dual-element rear wing, inspired by Ferraris FXX series, commands attention with its unapologetic design. Sitting high above the rear deck, it enhances downforce and gives the car a more aggressive posture. Below it, a reworked diffuser and quad-pipe exhaust system dominate the lower section, creating a rear view as intimidating as the front.Forged carbon fiber ties the design together and adds visual complexity. Every element feels deliberate, from sculpted vents to extended aerodynamic components. The F9XXs rear design doesnt just follow functionit redefines it.Deep, contrasting blue accents on the wing and exhaust surroundings add to the visual impact. These details ensure the rear end looks as cutting-edge as the performance it delivers.Price and ExclusivityThe Ferrari SF90 Spider starts at around $575,000, reflecting Ferraris engineering precision, hybrid technology, and performance pedigree. Its a car few can own and even fewer can master.The Mansory F9XX goes far beyond that. With extensive bodywork, interior customization, and performance upgrades, this one-off creation costs north of $1 million, with some estimates closer to $1.5 million. This price reflects the creation of something truly unique. Mansory avoids mass production, tailoring every detail to the buyers preferences and ensuring no two F9XXs are alike.The exclusivity is real. With only three units ever built, the F9XX isnt a car youre likely to see again. The emblem on the side, engraved with 1 of 1 made for A.M., stresses the exclusivity and individuality that define luxury design. It signifies ownership and serves as a personal statement, reflecting A.M.s exquisite taste and remarkable means. It highlights that true luxury is about crafting something unique, reflecting the exclusivity and individuality of the Mansory F9XX.Performance EnhancementsFerraris SF90 Spider delivers 986 horsepower from its hybrid V8 drivetrain, accelerating from 0-62 mph (0-100 km) in 2.5 seconds and topping out at 211 mph. Ive had my share of seat time in a few cars with similar performance, achieving 0-62 in under 3 seconds, but none as gorgeous as the F9XX. Mansory takes this platform and dials it up to 11, pushing the F9XX to produce 1,100 horsepower, shaving a tenth of a second off the 0-62 mph time, and increasing the top speed to 220 mph. These gains come from recalibrated engine mapping, improved aerodynamics, and a reworked exhaust system. The result is sharper, more aggressive, and perfectly tuned for those who demand the best.The F9XX truly shines in its driving experience. Mansorys enhancements go beyond raw numbers, creating a car that feels alive at any speed. The improved suspension, lightweight bodywork, and enhanced cooling systems ensure the car performs as well carving through mountain roads as it does tearing down a straight.The Dubai ConnectionSeeing the Mansory F9XX in Dubai feels poetic. The citys futuristic architecture and relentless ambition mirror the cars design ethos. This isnt a car for the quiet countrysideit belongs in places that embrace bold and extraordinary.Under the citys lights, the F9XX fits seamlessly. Its aggressive lines and carbon fiber textures reflect the surroundings, demanding attention. This car reflects movement and purpose, perfectly matching Dubais dynamic energy.The illuminated streets highlight the deep metallic tones and carbon fiber accents, making the F9XX almost appear sculpted from light. It feels as much a part of Dubai as its towering skyline.Final ThoughtsThe Mansory F9XX takes an already incredible car and pushes it into uncharted territory. It transforms the concept of a supercar, redefining its design and performance from the ground up. Every detail, from the forged carbon bodywork to the 1,100-horsepower drivetrain, tells a story of precision, ambition, and individuality.Seeing the F9XX in person, especially in Dubai, reinforces its presence as something extraordinary. Its a bold expression of design and engineering, created by someone willing to push boundaries and ask, What if?The post Witnessing the Mansory F9XX in Dubai stopped me in my tracks first appeared on Yanko Design.
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    How we Work: Wes Hilliard's Apple Vision Pro & iPad Pro-centric workflows
    Wesley is back to being a full-time iPad Pro user, but there's a splash of Apple Vision Pro and a mountain of other tech involved in the day-to-day. Here's how he gets work done at AppleInsider.Wesley's current desk setupIf there's one thing I like writing about, it's my setup and workflows. There's a lot going on here, and unless you're new here, you might already know I'm all in on iPad and a little obsessed with Apple Vision Pro.My setup and workflows don't reflect the rest of my colleagues, and that's fine. I'm happy that I get to figure out new and interesting ways to tackle problems that might otherwise be solved by simply using a Mac. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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    B&H has dropped Apple's M3 Pro MacBook Pro to $1,599 for 1 more day
    The $1,599 M3 Pro MacBook Pro flash deal reflects the lowest price we've seen in Q4 for the closeout laptop. Upgraded configurations are up to $500 off too, with the deals ending Dec. 31.Save up to $600 with blowout MacBook Pro discounts.The $400 price drop is available at B&H, with limited supply available at the reduced price. This blowout MacBook Pro deal on the last-gen M3 Pro model is valid through Dec. 31 or while supplies last.Buy for $1,599 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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    Bustler's top prize-winning architects, design leaders, and academics of 2024
    The field of architecture is filled with annual awards and accolades conferred to those who shape the present and future built environment through practice, research, and teaching.This past year has proved another full one in terms of such honors. From brilliant curators to champions of labor rights, sustainability, and social justice to academics and students, those recognized for their unique contributions to architecture and the built environment are truly deserving as the faces, lifeblood, and inspiring future of our profession.Below is our curated selection of some of the most notable award-winning architects, designers, and academics from this past year in chronological order.
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    11 Dazzling Celestial Events to See in 2025, From a Total Lunar Eclipse to Rare Planetary Alignments
    Carlyn KrankingAssistant Editor, Science and InnovationSkywatching brought people together in 2024, potentially more than ever before. Professional scientists, seasoned hobbyists and astronomical newbies turned their eyes skyward, united by the awe of staring at the cosmos.Millions of Americans watched the total solar eclipse that traced a path across the continent, darkening skies and revealing the suns ethereal corona. Dazzling auroras reached as far south as Florida, and a rare bright comet offered a stunning sight in western skies in the fall.Now, 2025 promises to be another captivating year in astronomy. Meteors will blaze through the night, a total lunar eclipse will bathe the moon in a blood-red glow, and Saturns rings will apparently disappear. On top of all that, keep an eye out for surprise aurora appearances as the sun experiences a high level of activity known as solar maximum.To make sure you dont miss a stunning celestial sight, mark your calendars for the following events, likely to be among the biggest astronomical spectacles of the year.January 15 to 16: Mars at opposition At opposition, Mars entire illuminated face will be aligned toward Earth, making the planet appear brighter and larger than usual. NASA / JPL / MSSSEarly in 2025, the red planet will reach a point known as opposition, a point of peak viewing when Mars, Earth and the sun form a line, with our planet in the middle. Like the moon when its full, Mars will be aligned with its entire illuminated face turned toward Earth. This setup makes opposition the best time to see and photograph a planet, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.All planets beyond Earths orbit can reach this alignment from our perspective. Jupiter, for example, hits opposition every 13 monthsand its just past that point now, still appearing at near-peak viewing.But Mars has the most anticipated planetary opposition of all, according to Star Walk. Its oppositions are the least frequent of the planets, occurring about every 26 months. And because Mars is closer to Earth than the gas giants, it appears to have the most dramatic increase in size when it reaches this position.On the evening of January 15, Mars will rise in the east as the sun sets in the west, and it will be visible nearly all night long. The red planet will appear brightly, even to the naked eye, but a pair of good binoculars or a small telescope will really bring out its features.February 28: All planets align in the sky All planets aligned in the sky in December 2022; not all are visible in this image. Brad McGinley Photography via Getty ImagesFor an even more dramatic planetary event, head outside on February 28. All seven of the solar systems other planets will appear together in Earths skies in a rare alignment.Technically, this is whats known as a planetary paradewhen we look at the sky, the planets will all be above the horizon, but in the actual, three-dimensional solar system, they arent really lined up. Besides, since all eight planets dont orbit on exactly the same planesome orbits are a little bit tilted in relation to each otherthe solar system cant truly align in full. But when the planets do sync up in their orbits, its known as a syzygyand that kind of event is extremely rare.Still, Februarys alignment is worth paying attention to. It will offer prime planetary viewing, as you can check off sightings of several of our celestial neighbors in a single night. Uranus and Neptune are too faint to see without a telescope, but Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn will all be visible to the naked eye. But if youre trying to spot them all, youll have to time your skywatching well: Saturn and Mercury (as well as Neptune) will be near the sun at sunset, making them more difficult to see.The last time all the planets lined up this way was on April 8, 2024making the sight visible during the total solar eclipse over North America. A slightly smaller alignment of six planets will begin on January 21, featuring Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus. This spectacle will have a window of ideal visibility through February 21.March 14: Total lunar eclipse During a total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, the full moon takes on a red hue. Stan Honda / AFP via Getty ImagesSometimes, full moons get called colorful names that are a bit of a fake-out: A blue moon isnt really blue, and a pink moon isnt really pink. But during the total lunar eclipse on March 14, you can truly see the moon take on a deep red hue.In a total lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the shadow of the Earth. Sunlight that reaches the moon is filtered through our planets atmosphere, which scatters away shorter-wavelength blue light and allows red light to pass. This bathes our natural satellite in a rusty glow, giving this celestial event its more accurate nickname: a blood moon.Marchs eclipse will be visible from all U.S. states and parts of every continent, though only the Americas and Antarctica will see the full duration of the total eclipse phase. Totality will last for 65 minutesa stark contrast from the short-lived totality of a solar eclipse.Marchs moon has one more thing making it specialits also a micromoon. This phenomenon is the antithesis of a supermoon, in which the full moon appears bigger and brighter than usual. Micromoonswhich are, in turn, smaller and dimmer than the averagehappen when the full moon falls near our natural satellites apogee, or its farthest point in its orbit around Earth.The farthest full moon of the year will be Aprils, at a distance of more than 252,000 miles from our planet.March 29: Partial solar eclipse A partial solar eclipse seen from North Cascades National Park in Washington on August 21, 2017 NASA / Bill IngallsEvery solar eclipse is accompanied by a lunar eclipse either two weeks before or afterthe events are always paired. Following Marchs total lunar eclipse, the sun will cast the moons shadow across a portion of the globe in a partial solar eclipse, with the best view seen from parts of Canada, where up to roughly 93 percent of the sun will be covered.Unlike the solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, this one wont see any period of totality. But through a pair of eclipse glasses, viewers can watch the moon take a bite out of the sun, obscuring just part of its face. While the moon passes between the sun and Earth in both cases, the three celestial bodies are not perfectly aligned during a partial eclipse, leaving some of the sun visible.This eclipse will trace a path over several continents, including portions of North America, Europe and Asia. In the United States, only eastern states will be able to glimpse the event: parts of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia will be able to see some of the sun get blocked out by the moon, per Forbes Arianna Johnson.Another partial solar eclipse will happen on September 21, but that one will only be visible from Australia, Antarctica, New Zealand and areas of the southern Pacific and Atlantic oceans. (Its total lunar eclipse companion will appear over Asia, Australia and parts of Europe and Africa two weeks prior.)For U.S.-based space enthusiasts, traveling to see Marchs eclipse over Canada might be more feasible. Bring a pair of eclipse glasseswith no totality happening during this event, youll always need protection when looking at the sun. Even if you dont travel, you can appreciate the sight: Kick back, turn on a live stream and enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of your home.April 21 to 22: Lyrid meteor shower Lyrid meteors streak across a starry sky above Germany in 2018. Daniel Reinhardt / picture alliance via Getty ImagesComing after a few months of relative quiet, as far as shooting stars are concerned, the Lyrids each year kick off a series of meteor showers that stretches throughout the late spring, summer, fall and early winter. The Lyrid meteor shower will be active from around April 15 to April 30, with the peak rate of meteors occurring from April 21 to 22.This narrow window will see roughly 10 to 15 meteors per hour under prime conditions of cloudless skies and darkness, but the moon will be just under half full, providing a little bit of a barrier to viewing. You can avoid the moons glare by looking for the shower before it rises, in the late evening of April 21, writes EarthSky.Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a trail of rocks and dust in space left behind by some celestial object, often a comet. These cometary remains burn up in our planets atmosphere, appearing as shooting stars to those on the ground. For the Lyrid shower, the comet in question is Comet Thatcher, a long-period orbiter that takes 415.5 years to complete its journey around the sun.Lyrid meteors appear across the whole sky, but they look like theyre coming from the harp constellation, Lyra. If youre trying to find the constellation, look for its brightest star, Vega. But keep a wide view of the skyand most importantly, find a dark area away from artificial lights. Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and put your phone awayits glow can interfere with your night vision.August 12 to 13: Perseid meteor shower The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best-known and most highly anticipated celestial events of the year. NASA / Preston DychesEach August, skywatchers look forward to the annual Perseid meteor shower. The spectacle, one of the most prolific showers of the year, falls during the summermeaning you could likely gaze at the sky in the comfort of a warm night.In prime conditions of dark skies and no moon, viewers could spot upwards of 100 meteors per hour on the nights of the showers peak. In 2025, that period falls on the night of August 12 to the morning of August 13but unfortunately, the peak will occur just days after a full moon this time around, meaning that fainter meteors are likely to get washed out.The plentiful Perseids come from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a relatively large object that takes 133 years to orbit the sun. To viewers on the ground, the meteors seem to originate around the constellation Perseus, a point known as the showers radiant. But these bright, fast meteors can be seen throughout the sky. The peak tends to build throughout the night, with the shower best observed just before dawn.As one of the highest-yield annual meteor showers, the Perseids remain a crowd favorite, even if 2025s showing will be a little lackluster, obscured by the shining moon.September 21: Saturn at opposition Saturn will reach its optimal point for viewing in September, appearing its brightest and biggest. To see its rings, youll need to use a telescope or powerful binoculars. NASA / JPLWhile January is Mars time to shine, September is for Saturn. The iconic, ringed planet will reach opposition during this month, making it appear its brightest and largest of the year. The sun, the Earth and Saturn will form a line, with the gas giants fully illuminated side facing toward us. Though youll need a telescope or powerful binoculars to see Saturns rings, the planet is visible to the naked eye.Beyond opposition, 2025 is a special year for Saturnthe gas giant will temporarily appear to lose its rings from Earths perspective. That phenomenon also has to do with alignmentevery 13 to 16 years, our planet and Saturn become situated in a way that lets us view its rings edge-on. Since the rings are so thin, they dont reflect much light when we see them from this angle. As such, theyll seemingly disappear for 44 days beginning in March. Theyll also undergo a second brief window of invisibility in November, appearing their narrowest on November 23.October 8: Draconid meteor shower The Draconid meteor shower is often a weak one, but some years have been known to produce outbursts or even plentiful storms of shooting stars. Mike Lewinski via Flickr under CC BY 2.0Most of the time, the Draconid meteor shower is one of the lesser celestial events, generating no more than ten meteors per hour during its peak. But in rare cases, the shower produces something much more fantastic: a meteor outburst with higher rates of shooting stars streaking across the sky. With luck, astronomers say this just might be one of those years.The Draconids are produced when the Earth moves through a trail of debris left behind by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. When these bits of rock and dustsome as small as a grain of sandcollide with Earths atmosphere, theyre traveling at roughly 13 miles per second, and they burn up in fiery streaks.The most recent Draconid outburst happened in 2018, when 21P/Giacobini-Zinner had just passed its perihelion, or the closest point to the sun on its 6.6-year orbit. That year, European viewers reported upwards of 100 meteors per hour.Now, the comet is returning from its journey around our solar system, and it will reach perihelion in March. So, come October, there will be a real possibility of heightened Draconid activity.Thats not allthe Draconids have one other trait that could make them extra special. Throughout history, the shower has generated rare but astounding meteor storms, sending dozens to hundreds of meteors every minute falling like snow through the sky. In 1933, a Draconid meteor storm shocked European viewers, and in 1946, that spectacle came to the United States.As for whether well see a full-fledged meteor storm this year, EarthSky writes probably not but you never know.When watching the fickle Draconids, its important to manage your expectationsespecially this year, as the shower happens just one day after a bright full moon. Still, astronomers will be keeping their eyes on the sky in case of an outburst. Nick Moskovitz, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory, told Smithsonian magazines Olatunji Osho-Williams in October that he, for one, definitely will be paying close attention.October 22: Orionid meteor shower The Orionid meteor shower peak will coincide with a new moon this year, offering prime viewing conditions. Jeff Sullivan via Flickr under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0Meteors will blaze through the night sky again in October as shooting stars appear to emanate from the constellation Orion. Named for the celestial hunter, the Orionid meteor shower has a long duration, from September 26 to November 22.The peakduring which 10 to 20 meteors per hour can be seen under dark skies with no moonwill fall around October 22. But according to Royal Museums Greenwich: There is a broad maximum lasting about a week roughly centered on that date. So, you might want to take multiple nights to look, and be patient if you dont see meteors the first time.This year, the showers peak will coincide with a new moon, offering the darkest possible skies and, as a result, the best possible viewing conditions. Find a spot away from the glow of cities and any artificial lights, then look up.An annual meteor shower, the Orionids are produced by the debris trail left by Halleys Comet, which loops around the sun once every 76 years and was the first comet to ever have its return predicted. It remains one of the best-known and most eagerly anticipated orbiters. Halleys Comet will make its next return to our solar system in 2061.November 5: Closest supermoon of the year Supermoons are closer to Earth than the average full moon, making them look slightly bigger and brighter than usual. George Frey / Getty ImagesSupermoons arent rare, and when theres one, there are othersthey always appear consecutively. This year, supermoons occur in October, November and December, followed by a fourth one to close out the sequence in January 2026. But Novembers moon will be the closest to Earth of them all, at 221,965 miles away.The moons orbit around our planet is oval-shaped, meaning its sometimes closer to us and sometimes farther away. Each time the full moon occurs when our natural satellite is within 90 percent of its perigee, or the nearest point to Earth, we call it a supermoon. Compared to the average full moon, a supermoon is up to 8 percent larger and 16 percent brighter because of its proximity.December 13: Geminid meteor shower Geminid meteors fly over Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. KPNO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / R. Sparks (NSF NOIRLab)Known for its prolific shooting stars, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated celestial events each year. With a waning crescent moon in 2025, the meteors are likely to be a little washed out by the glow. But the shower is sure to outdo 2024s Geminid peak, which fell almost squarely on the day of the full moon.The shower, which lasts from December 1 to December 21, will peak on the night of December 13 to 14. During that narrow window, up to about 120 meteors per hour will streak through the sky, best visible under prime conditions of darkness. Though meteors will appear in all directions, they seem to emanate from the constellation Gemini, which gives the shower its name.While many other annual meteor showers are caused by the debris trail of a comet, the origin of the Geminid shower is a little more mysterious. Astronomers know the Geminid debris comes from a celestial body called 3200 Phaethon, but the nature of that rock is uncertain. Classified as an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon acts like a comet, per NASA. Some scientists have even speculated that its a dead comet or a new classification altogether, called a rock comet. Regardless, its annual show is known to be astounding.If youre planning to catch the shower, dress warmlyin early December, you may have to brave the cold. But in astronomy, cold weather can be a benefit, creating extra-clear skies without much moisture in the air. Those intrepid skywatchers who venture outside for the Geminids in winter are rewarded with an outpouring of bright meteorsand one of the years best astronomical sights.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Astronomy, Mars, Meteors, Moon, Outer Space, Planets, Saturn, Sky Watching Guide, solar eclipse, Solar System, Sun
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  • WWW.SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
    Ancient DNA Offers Crucial Hints to the Origin of Syphilis, a Decades-Long Mystery That Has Divided Scientists
    From these upper hip bones, researchers extracted an ancient genome of the bacteria that causes syphilis. Daro RamirezThe first historical account of syphilis dates to spring 1495, when a seemingly mysterious disease ravaged the soldiers in King Charles VIII of Frances Italian campaign, then propagated throughout Europe. Now, more than 500 years later, scientists have been debating the origin of the sexually transmitted disease for decades, with some arguing that its not a coincidence this first recorded outbreak took place shortly after Christopher Columbus returned from his early trips to the Americas.Now, scientists have shed more light on this debate by analyzing five ancient genomes from the syphilis disease family. Their results, published in the journal Nature this month, present evidence that ancient bacterial strains related to the syphilis disease group were widespread in the Americas before the arrival of Columbus expeditions.Weve known for some time that syphilis-like infections occurred in the Americas for millennia, but from the lesions alone its impossible to fully characterize the disease, study co-author Casey Kirkpatrick, a bioarchaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, says in a statement.If left untreated, syphilis might cause symptoms including sores, neurological problems and lesions on bones, teeth or both. Today, antibiotics can treat the disease, but it still infects about eight million people yearly, though many cases are asymptomatic.The arrival of Europeans brought diseases to the Americas that devastated Indigenous populations. The Columbus theory on the origin of syphilis suggests the explorers crews might have helped the disease make a journey in the opposite direction, just in time to infect Charles VIIIs army a few years later. Then, syphilis would have spread to the rest of Europe when the soldiers returned home, as well as through the slave trade and European expansion, according to the statement.Over the years, however, some bones dating to before Columbus journey to the Americas have been unearthed in Europe with syphilis-causing bacteria or syphilis-looking lesions. If the lesions were confirmed to have resulted from this disease, it would negate the Columbus theory, because it would mean that syphilis was already present in Europe before his return.The syphilis debate was a big one, and it was a very emotional one a famous paleopathologist described it as one of the most enigmatic questions in science, study co-author Kirsten Bos, a physical anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, tells the Washington Posts Carolyn Y. Johnson.The international team from this recent study, however, examined dozens of at least 500-year-old bones or teeth riddled with lesions from museum collections in the Americas. The team found and extracted the genomes of a precursor to the modern-day Treponema pallidumthe bacteria that causes syphilis and other related diseases, such as bejel and yawsfrom the remains originating in Mexico, Chile, Peru and Argentina.We were able to reconstruct five [bacteria] genomes from these bones and we see that they are sister lineages to the modern strains of the bacterium that is circulating in humans today, Bos tells the Guardians Ian Sample. And, she adds, they all appear to have emerged in the Americas.The researchers also inferred that these ancient American variants of the bacteria shared a common ancestor that dates to 9,000 years ago at mostwhen some early humans had already migrated from Siberia to the Americas.It was in the Americas prior to European conquest, Rodrigo Nores, a paleogeneticist at Argentinas National Scientific and Technical Research Council and a co-author of the study, tells Sciences Andrew Curry. It seems its a bacteria that evolved on the American continents, with great genetic diversity.Its an elegant paper, Molly Zuckerman, a paleopathologist from Mississippi State University who was not part of the study, adds to Science. The authors do a superb job of getting certainty that only ancient genomic work could provide as to origin and emergence.Though the study cant prove that Columbus crew picked up the disease and brought it back to Europe, the researchers do suggest it was European colonization that spread syphilis throughout the rest of the world.Bos, however, doesnt think were solving the mystery necessarily, because there are still so many important questions we have to answer, she tells the Guardian. Were looking at very limited sources of data, and were trying to analyze them and in a very holistic, comprehensive way, and to be very open-minded. I think the narrative will continue to be debated.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.
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    Stunning Sculpture by Camille Claudel Rediscovered in an Abandoned Parisian Apartment
    Camille Claudel's famous bronze sculpture The Age of Maturitydepicts a young women being left behind by her lover, who walks ahead with an older woman. Lou Benoist / AFP via Getty ImagesA rare bronze sculpture by the French artistCamille Claudel that was lost for more than a century will soon be heading to the auction block. Titled The Age of Maturity, the artwork was recently rediscovered in an abandoned apartment, and its expected to fetch as much as $2.1 million.Created in the 1890s, the piece depicts a man and two women, one old and one young. The older woman leads her lover forward. The younger is behind him on her knees, reaching out to him.Auctioneer Matthieu Semont was conducting an inventory of aParisian apartment that hadnt been occupied in 15 years when he discovered the missing sculpture under a sheet. He says he cried when he first saw the bronze, calling the moment magical, as he tells Agence France-Presse.When and how the bronze was placed in that apartment remains a mystery. After Semonts find, French sculpture experts fromCabinet Lacroix-Jeannest researched and authenticated the piece. It will be sold atPhilocale Auction House in Orlans, France, on February 16.While Claudels name is not as well-known in the United States as it is in France, her star has been rising over the past decade. The Art Institute of Chicago and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles recently featured exhibitions of her work.Celebrated for her brilliance during a time when women sculptors were rare, Camille Claudel was among the most daring and visionary artists of the late 19th century, per theGetty Museums website.Claudel is also known for her tumultuous connection with the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Rodin was not only Claudels mentor, but also her lover and her rival. After their relationship ended, she was eventually admitted to a psychiatric facility due to an ongoing mental illness. Experts speculate that the sculpture is autobiographical, with the male figure representing Auguste Rodin. Lou Benoist / AFP via Getty ImagesSome speculate that The Age of Maturity has autobiographical elements. According to Alexandre Lacroix, a sculpture expert who helped authenticate the artwork, the girl on her knees resembles Claudel, while the male figure references RodinsBurghers of Calais, per theArt Newspapers Claudia Barbieri Childs. The older woman could representRose Beuret, Rodins longtime partner and eventual wife. Rodin was ultimately unwilling to leave Beuret for Claudel.Executed in Claudels characteristically powerful expressionist style, it lends itself to multiple interpretations: an allegory of lifes trajectory but also of Claudels personal tragedy, writes the Art Newspaper.The sculpture was cast by the foundry owner and art collector Eugne Blot, who acquired exclusive ownership of the piece and helped promote Claudels work, according to Artnets Richard Whiddington. Blot created six casts of The Age of Maturity at one-third scale, which he exhibited on several occasions.Only three other bronzes of the complete work are currently known. One, cast from the same mold, is held by theMuse Camille Claudel in Nogent-sur-Seine. Two larger casts of the sculpture are held by the Muse dOrsay and theMuse Rodin. Additionally, several versions depicting only the kneeling girl have survived.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Art, Arts, Auctions, Cool Finds, France, Sculpture, Visual Arts,
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