CaaC (John)

Have archaeologists found the burial place of Rome's founder? Tomb found under the city's Forum may be the final resting place of Romulus SLIDES - 1/3 A tomb discovered under the Roman Forum could be the resting place of the city's legendary founder Romulus. Archaeologists are believed to have uncovered an area devoted to the first King of Rome and a rock sarcophagus, measuring 4.6ft, which are believed to date back to the 6th century BC. Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park Alfonsina Russo told The Times: 'This is an extraordinary discovery. The forum never ceases to yield amazing fresh treasures.' The underground temple is buried beneath the entrance stairway to the Curia and was the place where Roman senators voted with every presumed to belong to one. What is the Roman Forum? The Roman Forum, known as the Forum Romanum in Latin, was the heartbeat of both Ancient Rome and its continent-straddling empire. Historians believe people first began meeting in the Forum in 500BC when the Roman Republic was founded. The area is situated between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill. The Temple of Julius Caesar is the most striking monument and was built a couple of years after Ancient Rome's most famous leader was murdered in 44BC. Scholars believed, according to Ms Russo, that the temple's altar has been positioned where ancient Romans believed Romulus was buried. Yet no bones were found in the coffin. The finding had taken place near the Lapis Niger, an ancient black shrine in the Roman Forum, according to Andreas Steiner, editor of the magazine Archeo. The shrine, discovered in 1899, has a Greek inscription referring to how the sacred ground must not be disturbed. In Roman mythology, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were left in a basket on the River Tiber. The pair survived and were discovered under a fig tree and a she-wolf suckled them. Romulus later killed his brother Remus in a fight on what became Palatine Hill in 753BC. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/have-archaeologists-found-the-burial-place-of-romes-founder-tomb-found-under-the-citys-forum-may-be-the-final-resting-place-of-romulus/ar-BB106uwf?li=BBoPWjQ#image=1

Bomb cyclone washes up 'ghost ship' in Ireland, UK reels from flooding An explosive winter storm that roared across the North Atlantic over the weekend, packing high winds and heavy rain, was fierce enough to wash up a cargo ship that had been drifting at sea since 2018 onto the Irish coast. The Met Office, Britain's meteorological service, said Storm Dennis brought a month's worth of rain in just 48 hours to parts of South Wales, causing major flooding throughout the region as authorities fanned out to rescue people from homes and businesses. The storm was dubbed a "bomb cyclone" after rapidly intensifying near Iceland Friday before slamming Britain and Ireland over the weekend. The National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center said Storm Dennis deepened by 40 millibars in 24 hours, becoming one of the five strongest non-tropical cyclones on record in the North Atlantic. The Irish Coast Guard said it responded on Sunday after a cargo ship that had been drifting at sea since its crew was rescued in 2018 ended up on the rocks near Ballycotton, located on the country's south coast. "There was nobody on board," according to the Irish Coast Guard. Officials in Ireland said the U.S. Coast Guard had rescued the 10 crew members from the vessel back in September 2018. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a cutter rescued Alta's 10 crew members on Oct. 8, 2018, when the vessel became disabled 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda. At the time of the rescue, the crew members had been stranded on the ship for 20 days after transiting from Greece to Haiti when the ship broke down and repairs were unable to be made. "The vessel has been drifting since," Irish officials said. Cork’s Evening Echo newspaper reported a county council team was preparing to assess the wreck of the "ghost ship" for possible oil leaks. "It is located on a dangerous and inaccessible stretch of coastline and is in an unstable condition," the Cork County Council said it a statement to the news outlet. The storm caused disruptions throughout the region that are expected to last through Sunday. Major incidents have been declared in a number of areas in England and Wales as authorities mobilized resources to deal with the impact of the overflowing rivers that have cut off some communities. Dennis has been so intense that England posted a record number of flood warnings and alerts. In addition, a rare “red warning," for extremely life-threatening flooding, was announced for South Wales. A man in his 60s died after falling into the River Tawe in South Wales mid-morning and his body was found further along the river, Dyfed-Powys Police said on social media. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious or being linked to the bad weather. On Saturday, Storm Dennis was blamed for the deaths of two men who were pulled from the sea in separate searches off England's southeastern coast. The British Red Cross said that with water levels expected to peak on Monday or Tuesday it was ready to respond across the country. “British Red Cross have been liaising with relevant local authorities, offering to support people affected by Storm Dennis across the U.K.,” its crisis response officer Georgie Timmins said. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/bomb-cyclone-washes-up-ghost-ship-in-ireland-uk-reels-from-flooding/ar-BB105D9V

Colossal Sports Management CEO and founder Aidy Ward, who has represented Sterling since he was at school, told Sportsmail on Sunday night: 'Raheem is solely focused on Manchester City and will not be distracted by any talk of transfers to any club at the moment.' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8010517/Raheem-Sterling-Manchester-City-star-commit-future-club-shock-ban.html

R.I.P. Harry MUNICH HERO HARRY GREGG PASSES AWAY https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/harry-gregg-man-utd-and-munich-hero-dies-at-the-age-of-87

Astronomers want public funds for intelligent life search The head of one of the US's national observatories says the search for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe needs to be taken more seriously. Dr Anthony Beasley told the BBC that there should be greater government support for a field that has been shunned by government research funders for decades. His backing for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (Seti) marks a sea change in attitudes to a field regarded until recently as fringe science. Dr Beasley made his comments at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Seattle. The director of the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville in Virginia said that it was now "time for Seti to come in from the cold and be properly integrated to all other areas of astronomy". Dr Beasley's comments come as one of the private sector funders of Seti research announced that the Very Large Array (VLA) observatory in New Mexico would be joining the effort to detect signs of intelligent life on other worlds. The VLA is a multi-antenna observatory and home to what is regarded as one of the best-equipped telescopes in the world. According to Dr Andrew Siemion, leader of the Breakthrough Listen science team at the University of California, Berkeley's Seti Research Centre, the incorporation of the VLA would increase the chances of finding intelligent life by "10- or even 100-fold". "We are now set for the most comprehensive all-sky survey [for extra-terrestrial intelligence] that has ever been accomplished," he told the BBC. Equally important, according to Dr Siemion, is the credibility that the VLA's involvement brings to the field. "We would like to see Seti transformed from a small cabal of scientists and engineers in California, isolated from academia to one that is as much an integral part of astronomy and astrophysics as any other field of inquiry." Breakthrough Listen is a privately funded project to search for intelligent extraterrestrial communications throughout the universe. The 10-year project began in 2016, funded by the billionaire Yuri Milner to the tune of $100m (£77m). You might also be interested in: US meteorite adds to origins mystery 'Aliens exist and could be here on Earth' Signals from space: Five theories on what they are The UK's Astronomer Royal, Professor Lord Rees, is the chair of the organisation's international advisory group. He told the BBC that, given that the multi-billion pound Large Hadron Collider had not yet achieved its aim of finding sub-atomic particles beyond the current theory of physics, governments should consider modest funding of a few million pounds for Seti. "I'd feel far more confident arguing the case for Seti than for a particle accelerator," he said. "Seti searches are surely worthwhile, despite the heavy odds against success, because the stakes are so high". Nasa once funded the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence to the tune of $10m a year. But the funding was scrapped in 1993 following the introduction of legislation by Senator Richard Bryan, who believed it to be a waste of money. "This hopefully will be the end to the Martian hunting season at the taxpayer's expense," he said at the time. There has been no significant public funding for Seti in the US or anywhere else in the world since, although so-called astrobiology searches for evidence of simple organisms from the chemical signatures in the atmosphere's of other worlds receives increasing backing. At the time, the first few planets orbiting distant stars were discovered, but it was not known if this was the norm. We now know that it is - nearly 4,000 have been discovered to date. It is this development, according to Dr Siemion, that has persuaded many respected scientists that the search for intelligent life on other worlds should be taken more seriously. "Ever since human beings have looked up at the night sky and wondered 'is there anyone out there?' We now have the capacity to answer that question, and perhaps to make a discovery that would rank as the most profound scientific discoveries in the history of humanity". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51223704

Aye, realised that when you pointed it out, I must have opened the page on that date instead of the latest post, today

Get a skinhead, I dare you

Congratulations, when is the big day for the wedding or you both have not planned that yet, once you do you can catch up to me and the wife, 46 years married this December.

Storm reveals 130 million-year-old dinosaur footprint on the Isle of Wight VIDEO A 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprint was uncovered on the Isle of Wight during Storm Ciara last week, according to fossil hunters. The track was left preserved in clay by a large three-toed reptile such as the meat-eating predator Neovenator, which can grow up to 10 metres long and weigh up to 4,000kg. It was found in Sandown Bay on Wednesday by members of the Wight Coast Fossils group after the area was lashed by 60mph winds and heavy rain over the weekend. “All this weather is revealing traces of vanished worlds along our coastline,” the group wrote on their Facebook page. “Shifting sands at Sandown Bay revealed this beautiful 130 million-year-old dinosaur track yesterday, preserved in the brightly coloured floodplain clays.” The group, which runs tours of the area, said that the footprint was preserved in what would have been an area of marshland that regularly dried and flooded. “Our track maker was crossing this environment 130 million years ago, heading southwest in what is now Sandown Bay, leaving these huge tracks in the boggy soil,” they wrote. “Behind the animal lay a range of low forested hills, while ahead lay a flat floodplain landscape dotted with floodplain forests, river channels, and herds of herbivorous dinosaurs.” However, the footprint may soon disappear as the tide wears down the soft clay on what is known as the “Wessex Formation”. Violent storms along the south coast have previously revealed a large number of dinosaur footprints near Hastings, East Sussex. Those tracks included a species of stegosaur, the armoured ankylosaurus and predatory theropod dinosaurs. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/storm-reveals-130-million-year-old-dinosaur-footprint-on-isle-of-wight/ar-BB100KLq?li=AAnZ9Ug

Just been talking to a guy on the phone when sorting my gas/electric bill out, he said his name was Nick so I said I will ask for him if needed next time and he said don't ask for Nick, they call me the Monkey Hanger because I am from Hartlepool and he said check Google and you will find out why... I did. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_hanger

The grandson is staying the weekend and he is playing this game and the voice of the commentator is driving me round the twist, little silly laughs when he/she makes a mistake, he was playing & watching it last night too and I asked him nicely to turn the volume down its called Portal Knight and he has been explaining to me who is the goodies & baddies...cough, cough, "Ok..." for the life of me how he can keep up with this I don't know and he is only 6.

Get one of your pals to falsify documents, someone like @Bluewolf

@nudge, go for it, I am too old. Wanted: New astronauts for Nasa Moon mission https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51487871

@Rick Time To Kill A good film, based on a book by John Grisham his first novel which I have read and if you liked the film and into reading good books you should read it. https://www.jgrisham.com/a-time-to-kill/ Had to edit this and re-post as my spacing is playing up.

New Horizons spacecraft 'alters theory of planet formation' Scientists say they have "decisively" overturned the prevailing theory of how planets in our Solar System formed. The established view is that material violently crashed together to form ever-larger clumps until they became worlds. New results suggest the process was less catastrophic - with matter gently clumping together instead. The study appears in Science journal and has been presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Seattle. The study's lead researcher, Dr Alan Stern said that the discovery was of "stupendous magnitude". FULL REPORT

The oldest evidence of modern bees found in Argentina A new fossil find has set paleontologists abuzz: Ancient nests confirm that bees were alive and well in Patagonia 100 million years ago, marking the oldest fossil evidence for modern bees. The nests described recently in the journal PLOS ONE, consist of tunnels studded with grape-shaped alcoves, where the ancient bees’ larvae could mature undisturbed. The only group of living insects that builds nests in this particular way is the family Halictidae, a global and highly diverse bee group also known as the sweat bees. Some modern halictid bees build underground nests that look almost exactly like the newfound fossil burrows. FULL REPORT

Biggest Turtle to Ever Walk the Earth Was Hunted by 40 Foot Crocodiles The shell of an enormous prehistoric turtle that would have been eight feet long has been discovered in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert. Analysis of the shell showed several bite marks indicating this animal was hunted by enormous crocodiles that lived at the same time, some of which could have been over 40 feet in length. The turtle, Stupendemys geographicus, lived during the mid to late Miocene, 13 to 7 million years ago. It represents the biggest complete turtle shell ever discovered. S. geographicus was first discovered in the 1970s and is believed to be the largest land turtle ever to have walked Earth. However, the species is not well understood, with key details about it are lacking. Edwin Cadena, a Geologist and Vertebrate Paleontologist from Colombia's Universidad del Rosario, and colleagues were searching for specimens to see if they could find out more about their lifestyles and biology. Findings are published in Science Advances. S. geographicus was previously known to have lived in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. The discovery of the new specimen expands this range significantly. It also provides an insight into the life of these turtles, showing males had huge horns on their shells that aided fighting. Their analysis also revealed bite marks and punctured bones that indicates they were preyed on by the enormous, extinct crocodiles Gryposuchus and Purussaurus, the latter of which could reach over 40 feet in length. In an email to Newsweek, Cadena said he and the team were surprised at the size of the new specimens, and even more so when they identified the "massive horns" the males had. The team propose these horns would have helped protect their skulls during combat. Researchers say these turtles were able to grow to huge sizes because of their warm, wet habitat. Several other species in South America are known to have been extremely large, such as Titanoboa, the largest snake ever. Cadena said S. geographicus may have gone extinct around 5 million years ago. "Although there is not the last word on the causes of its extinction we attribute it to a combination of factors including the habitat segmentation due to geological and hydrological events that occurred in northern South America for that time including intense uplift of the Andes, and the reconfiguration of the major rivers: Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena," he said. "This reduction in habitat size could have created ecological disruptions for the giant turtles and crocodiles inhabiting this region and favouring their extinction." Cadena said they now plant to continue to explore South America in search of new fossils: "Not only of this giant Stupendemys but also other extinct species that could shed light on the origin and history of current biodiversity, fossils that could even make a small contribution to conservation plans of their living descendants." James Parham, Associate Professor of Geological Sciences from the California State University, Fullerton, who was not involved in the research, said the findings were important as they give a more complete picture of a turtle celebrated by paleontologists: "They show that Stupendemys was not only bigger than we thought but also more widespread. Is also nice to know what the skull of these turtles looks like," he told Newsweek. Adán Pérez García, from the Evolutionary Biology Group of Spain's UNED, who was also not involved told Newsweek the research has several implications and markedly increases our knowledge of the anatomy of the biggest turtle to ever live. "The new study not only allows to know new anatomical information, but also helps to distinguish between males and females, and to better understand the way of life of this unique large form," he said. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/biggest-turtle-to-ever-walk-the-earth-was-hunted-by-40-foot-crocodiles/ar-BBZWtwm

Aye, they were having a mouse punch up over a crumb.

Not sure if I have posted this in the right section or not? A new Alien FPS featuring Ripley and Newt was shelved after Disney bought Fox https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/a-new-alien-fps-featuring-ripley-and-newt-was-shelved-after-disney-bought-fox/ar-BBZSepQ

The 'Ghost' of an Unknown Extinct Human Has Been Found in DNA of Modern West Africans The gene pool of modern West Africans contains the 'ghost' of a mysterious hominin, unlike any we've detected so far. Similar to how humans and Neanderthals once mated, new research suggests this ancient long-lost species may have once mingled with our ancestors on the African continent. Using whole-genome data from present-day West Africans, scientists have found a small portion of genetic material that appears to come from this mysterious lineage, which is thought to have split off from the human family tree even before Neanderthals. Today, it's thought (although still being debated) that anatomically modern humans originated in Africa, and that once these populations migrated to Europe and Asia, they interbred with closely-related species like Neanderthals and Denosovans. FULL REPORT

'Rosalind Franklin': Europe's Mars rover heads for fit checks Europe's Mars rover, "Rosalind Franklin", is on the move again. The robot has just completed environmental testing at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, and is now going east to another aerospace facility run by Thales Alenia Space. It's on the French Riviera, in Cannes, that the vehicle will join the hardware that will carry it to the Red Planet and put it safely on the surface. Once this integration is complete, the rover can then go for launch. Rosalind Franklin is due to leave Earth in July or August this year on a Proton rocket, arriving at Mars in March 2021. The six-wheeled robot is equipped with scientific instruments designed to look for signs of life. The project is a joint venture of the European Space Agency (Esa) and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos. FULL REPORT

Bingo looks like the £500 total has been reached, well done to all and TF365 is riding high again and coming up to 3 years old to boot.

I am not one for films with subtitles and I am not sure if I have mentioned the film in here before to @nudge & @Tommy but this is one film I did watch again and I would give this a 9/10, a true story, 'As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me', a WWII film, I can understand a wee bit of german so it did help me out a bit.