Stone plaques with sun motifs found on Bornholm island, DenmarkAntiquity Publications/John Lee, National Museum of DenmarkHundreds of mysterious engraved sun stones unearthed in Denmark may have been ceremonially buried because a volcanic eruption in about 2900 BC made the sun disappear.A total of 614 stone plaques and fragments of plaques engraved with decorative motifs of the sun or plants have been unearthed in recent years at the Vasagrd West archaeological site on the Danish island of Bornholm. They were found in a layer that dates to some 4900 years ago, when Neolithic people were farming the area and building enclosures encircled by earthworks of banks and ditches. AdvertisementMost of the carved sun stones were found in the ditches around these enclosures and they had been covered by a stone pavement containing bits of pottery and other items. The pottery is typical of the late Funnel Beaker culture, which was present in this region until about 2900 to 2800 BC.It was originally proposed that the stone carvings of the sun were buried to ensure good harvests. The sun was the focal point for early agricultural cultures in northern Europe, says Rune Iversen at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.But why have they deposited all these images at the same time? asks Iversen. The last thing that they basically did here was depositing these sun stones and then covering them with pieces of animal bone, all the artefacts and stuff like that. And we see that reoccurring from ditch to ditch. So, it is kind of an act or an event. Keep up with advances in archaeology and evolution with our subscriber-only, monthly newsletter.Sign up to newsletterNow, he and his colleagues have an answer. They looked at data from ice cores extracted in Greenland and Antarctica and found higher concentrations of sulphate, which is deposited in the years after a volcanic eruption, in the period around 2900 BC.The relative ratio of sulphate deposition in Greenland and Antarctica implies the eruption was somewhere close to the equator, say the researchers, and its effects seem to have covered a huge area. Ash clouds may have blocked out the sun, lowering temperatures for years.A period of severe cooling around 2900 BC is corroborated by sources including tree rings in preserved wood from the Main river valley in Germany and those of long-lived bristlecone pines in the western US.The eruption would been devastating for the Neolithic peoples of northern Europe. If you dont have the harvest and you dont get the crops in, you wont have anything to sow next year, says Iversen. They must have felt pretty punished at that time because its just an endless catastrophe coming at them.He and his colleagues say that burying the carvings could have been an attempt to get the sun back or a celebration after the skies did finally clear.Its a good explanation, says Jens Winther Johannsen at Roskilde Museum in Denmark. You can be sure die-hard farming societies have to trust in the sun.Lars Larsson at Lund University in Sweden asks why we have evidence of such behaviour only on Bornholm, and not elsewhere in southern Scandinavia, if the climate effect was widespread.It could be because people there had plentiful hard stone slate which they carved the sun images on, but much of the rest of southern Scandinavia is mostly clay, so there is less suitable stone to carve, says Iversen. They could also have made engravings on pieces of wood or leather elsewhere, he says, but these wouldnt generally have been preserved.Alternatively, it might reflect cultural differences, says Johannsen. These societies arent isolated, but you are more isolated on an island, which could be why they developed a unique practice and culture.Journal reference:Antiquity DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2024.217Topics:archaeology

Cameron Diaz says she spent her 10-year break from acting "trying to stay alive just like every other mother."But she's set to make a return to Hollywood in the Netflix movie "Back in Action."Diaz joins a long list of celebrities like Tom Brady who have unretired.Cameron Diaz was busy being a mother during her 10-year break from making movies.In a video uploaded onto the "Still Watching Netflix" channel on YouTube, which goes behind the scenes on Netflix shows, Diaz spoke about what she had been up to during her hiatus."I was not keeping up with any kind of training," Diaz, 52, said. "I did nothing public."The actor known for films such as "Charlie's Angel" and "Vanilla Sky" added that she "said no to everything," although she did start a wine company."That was what I was putting most of my focus on, if I was doing anything other than just sort of being a mom and living my day-to-day," Diaz said. "And that was pretty much it. I'm just trying to stay alive just like every other mother. I'm just trying to keep it going."Diaz married Benji Madden of the rock band Good CharlotteIn an Entertainment Weekly interview in 2018, Diaz said she was "semi-retired" as an actor, before clarifying she was "actually retired." Per her IMDB page, her last role was in 2014's "Annie."During Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit last year, Diaz shared that her decision to stop acting was something she "had to do.""It felt like something I had to do to reclaim my own life. And I just really didn't care about anything else. Nobody's opinion, nobody's success, no one's offer, no one's anything could change my mind about my decision of taking care of myself and building the life that I really wanted to have," Diaz said. "It really comes to: What are you passionate about? For me, it was to build my family."Diaz is set to return to acting in the Netflix movie "Back in Action," which premieres January 17 and also stars Jamie Foxx.She joins a long list of celebrities who have unretired most notably, Tom Brady.Six weeks after retiring from the NFL in 2022, Brady announced he was unretiring in a post on X."I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa," Brady wrote. "Unfinished business. LFG."More recently, in December, Jim Carrey, 62, walked back on his comments about coming out of retirement because he was strapped for cash."I said I'd like to retire, but I think I was talking more about power-resting. Because as soon as a good idea comes your way, or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and stuff, it just things tend to change," Carrey told Comicbook.com.A representative for Diaz did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

By Germain Lussier Published January 15, 2025 | Comments (5) | If nothing else, Skeleton Crew gave us Neel. And for that we're grateful. Image: Lucasfilm Now that the first season, but hopefully not the last season, of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is in the books, its time to talk spoilers. Creators and showrunners Jon Watts and Christopher Ford recently sat down to do just that and addressed basically everything you were curious about: Jods past, At Attins future, whether or not their show will be returning for season two, and so much more. Their answers dive into big spoilers for the show, so if you havent caught up yet, nows your last chance. In their full interview with Entertainment Weekly, which you can and should read here, Watts and Ford discuss Jods character arc, his backstory, plot lines they didnt get to explore, the closing credits, and season two potential. One of the highlights is their discussion of the final look Jod gives peering out the window of At Attin, and what it could mean for him.Ive watched this episode 10,000 times in editing and in every stage of post-production, but watching it last night with my family, that was the part that kind of actually made me feel something I hadnt felt before for some reason, Ford said. Just him now alone and thinking his thoughts, ruminating. That hit me in a way that it hadnt before.Its one of those performances where it is open and real enough that you find yourself projecting a lot of yourself onto his expression, Watts added. I was trolling Reddit while you were watching with your family. Different people were reading different things. Some people were like, Oh, hes happy to finally have to drop this ruse. Or its like, No, hes regretful because hes looking out at this perfect family landscape and hes all alone. People saw every different variety. One piece of variety we wont get to see just yet is which Jedi Jod was training with. However, the showrunners do admit they left it vague to potentially deal with it in the future.In our heads, its like the potential to go deeper, Ford said. That part of the story is something that could be explored in the future. So when you have something thats a kind of work in progress like that, you leave it open enough to get worked on and made better.Yeah, not in this season, Watts added. But whats great about Star Wars is that you start talking about someones backstory and theres already a history and allure that surrounds it. So you start getting excited about, Oh, well, where do you place this person if its X amount of years ago into this larger galactic timeline? Its just such a rich world that you can have so many variations and varieties of characters and backstories, and its just like limitless potential. Its very fun. As for a second season, its something theyve been thinking about but havent been given an official go-ahead on yet. We have ideas in our heads for sure, Watts said. Were waiting to find out what everyone else thinks, but weve always had an idea of where this could go even before we made the first season. So theres lots of potential out there and hope everyone sees that.And, if that does happen, that all of the kids are likely to have aged significantly wont matter. Their ideas dont start the next day after the season one finale. We wouldnt pretend like the kids are only six months older if we made more, Watts said. It is fun to think of them growing up and where they would fit into the galaxy and how their world would be changed by the events of what happened in the first season. And interconnected wise, how the events of the other shows would impact At Attin, Ford added. It doesnt have to be a cameo, because if theres historical events are happening in the galaxy, its going to affect everyone.Yeah, their secluded planet is now officially a part of the larger galaxy. So what would be the ramifications of that? Watts asked. Seems like maybe they have their season two storyline figured outif season two comes to pass. Read more from Watts and Ford over at EW and check back tomorrow for our deep dive spoiler post on the first season of Skeleton Crew. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Germain Lussier Published January 15, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published January 10, 2025 By James Whitbrook Published January 10, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published January 9, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published January 8, 2025 James Whitbrook and Gordon Jackson Published January 8, 2025

Years of experiments at rock art sites in Finland have revealed that the echoes produced by smooth cliff faces may have influenced the neolithic people in that area. The artists behind the rock art and the people that later came to admire the figures would have experienced an spiritual sound, according to a recent study published in Sound Studies.We almost know nothing about sound in prehistoric times, says Riitta Rainio, an archaeologist at the University of Helsinki.Stone Age Rock Art in FinlandMost of the rock art in Finland dating to the Stone Age, that Rainio and her colleagues examined, was painted between 3,000 years and 7,000 years ago. The art that survives today uses a color red, which comes from mixing iron oxide taken from the soil.The most common motifs are moose, or elk, humans and boats, and sometimes a mixture of these figures. Some show humans with antlers on their head, or boats with the head and legs of moose.Those figures are telling about human-animal relationships in some way, Rainio says, adding that other archaeological evidence has revealed that Stone Age people in Finland specialized in moose hunting.Vrikallio rock paintings are some of the most famous examples of Stone Age rock art in Finland. Because some of the paintings depict a person drumming with their hands, researchers suggest the neolithic people practiced rituals in these areas. Most of the art was also painted on open cliff faces that rise out of water, which makes great surfaces for creating echoes.Examining Rock Art and EchoesRainio and her colleagues set up speakers and sound recorders to determine how well the sound echoed first at Julma-lkky, a rock art site in Hossa National Park, and then at a series of 37 rock art sites in Finland over 10 years using special rafts.At these sites, the researchers played generic sounds from speakers to test the echo of different sites, as well as the sounds of voices talking and even singing, which was performed sometimes by folk artists.Its not a good idea to go close to the cliffs but we have to do it, Rainio says, referencing the fact that ice scraping against the rock sometimes becomes less stable than ice in other areas.Recordings and analysis in the lab allowed them to pinpoint the places where the echoes came from on the cliffs. These revealed that the rock art matched with certain echo locations.We could prove that the echoes really reflect from those painted areas, Rainio says.What Did the Echoes Mean?Researchers dont know what language or spiritual beliefs existed for the neolithic people in Finland, or how they interacted with the echoes. But Rainio speculates that the rock art may have been a ritual practice.Our acoustic idea is that people approached those cliffs from the water, because waterways were the highways of the Stone Age, Rainio says.Anybody that approached would have experienced the echo of their voices and other noises. This might have reflected a spiritual power in the drawn figures to the neolithic people.The echoes are so strong that it must have had some meaning, Rainio says.The repetition of the echo may also have represented a connection with the spiritual world of these people as they would have heard their own voices repeated.A drum motif can be seen at the cliffs at Vrikallio, suggesting that drumming may have occurred the researchers collaborated with artists at one section to recreate a dance scene using some of the postures in the paintings. And supporting the idea that rituals occurred in these areas, archaeologists have discovered bone arrowheads and even pendants submerged in water below some of the art. These may have been left as offerings, Rainio says.For Rainio, the discovery is special because it brings a new dimension to understanding about how people experienced the rock art at these locations.Read More: 5 of the Worlds Most Fascinating Cave PaintingsArticle Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sound Studies. Reflected encounters at hunter-gatherer rock art sites by the waterJoshua Rapp Learn is an award-winning D.C.-based science writer. An expat Albertan, he contributes to a number of science publications like National Geographic, The New York Times, The Guardian, New Scientist, Hakai, and others.

Companies have until 2027 to remove them from foods. Credit: Linnea Bullion For The Washington Post via Getty ImagesShareTheFood and Drug Administrationis banning the use of Red No. 3, the petroleum-based dye that gives many popular foods and drinks their recognizable, vibrant hues. Although some companies already began phasing out the additive prior to the FDAs January 15 announcement, the synthetic ingredient is still found in over 3,000 products like fruit juice, beef jerky, sodas, and even some over-the-counter medications.Red No. 3, chemically known as erythrosine, was first introduced into foods in 1907. Companies subsequently added it to thousands of products to boost their colors over the decades, often in snacks like ice cream and candy marketed directly to children. Some of the earliest calls for Red No. 3s removal date back to the 1980s, when a research study indicated the synthetic could be carcinogenic in rats after ingesting it in large enough amounts. There is no definitive link between the additive and cancer in humans, but consumer advocacy groups continued to push for its prohibition.The FDA decided to not allow Red No. 3 in cosmetics such as lipstick in 1990, but declined to implement a similar restriction for food and drinks at the time. In 2021, a study from Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded artificial dyes like Red No. 3 may be linked to behavioral difficulties in children, including attention and memory issues. Renewed efforts to federally ban the additive began the following year, led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). California subsequently banned the chemical in 2023 while multiple other state legislatures introduced similar bills. Wednesdays announcement, however, finally prohibits it at the federal level. Erythosine is already restricted in China, the European Union, and the UK, and its use is limited in Australia and New Zealand.At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy, CSPI president Peter Lurie said in a statement. The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks, and other processed foods more attractive. When the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?The FDAs decision gives companies two deadlines to reformulate their products, depending on their classification. Food and drinks must no longer include Red No. 3 by January 15, 2027, while medications must do the same by January 18, 2028. There are still 36 FDA-approved color additives, nine of which are synthetic. Some, such as Red No. 40, have also received scrutiny for potential health harms. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The regulatory process for assessing health risks in food additives often takes years, if not decades, to complete. When pressed on such timelines during a Senate hearing in December 2024, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf reiterated the issue isnt a matter of corruption or incompetency, but federal support.We have repeatedly asked for better funding for chemical safety Please look at our request for funding for the people who do this work, he said at the time. [R]emember that when we do ban something, it will go to court, and if we dont have the scientific evidence we will lose in court.President-elect Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has threatened to eliminate much, if not all, of the FDAs operations.If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags, he wrote on social media in October 2024.Representatives for the National Confecturers Association (NCA), a prominent trade group, meanwhile, confirmed on Wednesday that its members will comply with the FDAs guidance and safety standards.Our consumers and everyone in the food industry want and expect a strong FDA, and a consistent, science-based national regulatory framework, they said in a statement. We have been saying for years that [the] FDA is the rightful national regulatory decision maker and leader in food safety.

Nature, Published online: 15 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04177-5Winner takes all.

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Voice actor Johnathon Rees (who goes by his stage name, Greg Ellis) was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office last week on a number of different charges related to harassing his ex-girlfriend and threatening her with revenge porn. Rees voiced the character of Cullen Rutherford in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition.Rees' charges include three counts of coercion, one count of unlawful surveillance, and one count of aggravated harassment and unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image. The charges are tied to a breakup in 2022, during which he reportedly threatened to post "revenge porn" of his ex. Rees was also charged with perjury and "offering a false instrument for filing," which refers to the act of knowingly submitting a falsified document to a public office or government agency with the intention of having it be accepted as an official record. The false filing and unlawful surveillance charges are both felonies, while the others are classified as misdemeanors.Per court documents, Rees was in a relationship with one Jane Doe from April 2016 to September 2022. On September 6, Doe broke up with Rees and cut off all communication with him. The 56-year-old actor allegedly responded to the breakup by engaging in a harassment campaign (including threats of self-harm and threats of posting intimate images of Doe) in an effort to get his ex to respond to his messages. In his preliminary statement, Rees stated that he is a "public figure" and noted that he has more than 65,000 followers on Twitter and 17,000 followers on Instagram.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The sheer amount of things to discover and collect in Infinity Nikki is mind-boggling, as each unique region of Wishfield provides something new and exciting for players to make use of. It's no secret that fashion is the true endgame for much of the player community, and so, the endlessly ambitious pursuit of the game's variety of crafting materials remains one of the biggest endeavors besides experiencing the main story itself.

In the world of Warhammer 40,000, the Black Library, guarded by ancient Harlequins, contains the galaxys most dangerous and forbidden knowledge. In our world, the Black Library is the clever title for Games Workshops publishing arm, which publishes novels and short stories about Orks, the Leagues of Votann, the Imperium of Man, and all the other factions that make up the madcap, grimdark future of 40K. The Black Library also covers works from Warhammer Fantasy and Age of Sigmar, for those who prefer the lore from the World-That-Was and the Mortal Realms.Black Library is hosting an open submissions period for writing samples between Feb. 22 and March 9, and theyre looking for writers to submit a short scene featuring two characters either from 40K or Age of Sigmar. (So you cant combine the settings my apologies to anyone who was hoping for an Archaeon/Abaddon showdown.)According to the announcement on Warhammer Community, authors can pick any two characters and depict them in a duel, a conversation, or anything else you can imagine; and if you impress their discerning editors, you may even be invited to formally pitch. Writers are only permitted one submission apiece. Note that the publisher will retain all rights to the samples: Games Workshop will have the exclusive right to use your submission for any purpose in the future.The entries must be in English, not exceed 500 words, and only feature two characters. The scene must be set in Vigilus, Commorragh, or Armageddon if set in 40K, and Hammerhal Aqsha, the Eightpoints, or Shadespire if the story takes place in Age of Sigmar. Commorragh is a particularly interesting prompt, as its the home of the nefarious Dark Eldar, a faction of reavers and raiders who must constantly inflict agony in order to save their own souls from a hungering god.Hopefully, therell be some submissions where Guilliman and the Lion finally meet and get to hug it out. Games Workshop will share more information on submissions on the Warhammer Community site on Feb. 22.Entries must be in EnglishThe scene must not exceed 500 wordsYour scene must only feature the two characters you have chosenBoth characters must have had a miniature made by Games Workshop at some pointNo crossovers: both characters must be from the same universeThe scene must take place in one of the following settings: There is to be only one entry per person, so make it a good one!This is your chance to really let your creative juices flow. Black Library is on the lookout for clever character pairings, and writing that portrays these characters authentically. As ever,terms and conditions apply.