Wednesday Open Thread
Did you ever have the feeling that half the week has gone with you even noticing? That’s the feeling I’m having this week. It’s already Wednesday! So, are you ready for an open thread?
The short, pain-filled life of King Tutankhamun:
King Tutankhamun, the boy pharaoh, was frail, crippled and suffered “multiple disorders” when he died at age 19 in about 1324 B.C., but scientists have now determined the most likely agents of death: a severe bout of malaria combined with a degenerative bone condition.
…
The study, reported Tuesday, turned up no evidence of foul play, as had been suspected by some historians and popular writers familiar with palace intrigues in ancient Egypt. Previous examinations of the Tut mummy had revealed a recent leg fracture, possibly from a fall. This might have contributed to a life-threatening condition in an immune system already weakened by malaria and other disorders, the researchers said.
…
One overall impression from the new research is that the royal family’s power and wealth did not spare them from ill health and physical impairment. Several mummies revealed instances of cleft palate, clubfeet, flat feet and bone degeneration. Four of the 11 mummies, including Tut’s, contained genetic traces of malaria tropica, the most severe form of the infection.
The researchers said that several other pathologies were diagnosed in the Tut mummy, including a bone disorder known as Kohler disease II, which alone would not have caused death. But he was also afflicted with avascular bone necrosis, a condition in which diminished blood supply to the bone leads to serious weakening or destruction of tissue. The finding led to the team’s conclusion that it and malaria were the most probable causes of death.
Tutankhamun had a cleft palate, curved spine, fragile bones and a club foot. He most likely had difficulty walking (there were hundreds of canes in his tomb). A lot of these conditions were caused by the inbreeding practiced by royal families of that era. Genetic testing showed Tutankhamun was the son of “heretic king” Ahkenaten and his sister.
Tags: Open Thread
They are still hauling this kid around to “limited exhibitions”. I saw one back in the mid 80’s out West, when I believe then the report was appendicitis. Is he becoming our modern day side show?
Come on, UI. More science? 😉
Really. So what’s with the Shroud of Turin? Haven’t seen that one lately.
1324b.c = cleft palate, spine curvature, etc. = boy king
2010 = likely abortion
Oh no h.–you don’t really want to go there. Bye-bye open thread.
I never thought I’d say this, but it’s nice being in the office in DC today (after a two week break). But back home to Sussex County this afternoon. 🙂
BTW – Sussex has done a far better job at snow removal than DC has.
BREAKING SCIENCE NEWS
The Heaviest Element Known to Science
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California has now identified with certainty the heaviest element known to science.
The new element, Pelosium (PL), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Pelosium is inert, and has no charge and no magnetism. Nevertheless, it can be detected because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Pelosium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete.
Pelosium has a normal half-life of 2 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a biennial reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
Pelosium mass will increase over time, since each reorganization will promote many morons to become isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Pelosium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Pelosium becomes Senatorium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Pelosium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
The Shroud of Turin has disappeared (mostly) from popular culture when carbon dating showed the Shroud dated to the 1350s. I’m sure it was just a coincidence that the Shroud first appeared in the 1350s. It is still displayed as a sacred object AFAIK.
Well thanks UI–guess we won’t see that at the State Fair:)
I guess Gecko forgot about the element assholium. Usually leans to the right in centrifuges. Sometimes takes human form to post wildly asinine things on DL.
but does it take reptile form? 🙂
Regarding Tut, it seems that as medical imaging&testing technology advances so does the “story” of his life.
Yea, mine too:)
Get it while it is warm…Celia Cohen Brand Political Journalism !!
(Don’t read it if you expect your political journalism to contain anything other than sickeningly sweet kittens in baskets and other Mike Caste/Tom Carper trivia covered in slobber.)