Tag Archives: preserving

Niede Guidon, 92, Archaeologist Renowned for Preserving Prehistoric Rock Art, Passes Away

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Nide Guin, a Brazilian archaeologist known for challenging long-held theories about early human life in the Americas, significantly influenced the transformation of the Hard Scrabble region in northeastern Brazil into Serra da Capybara National Park. She passed away on Wednesday at her home near the park in Saint-Rymande Nohto, at the age of 92.

According to park director Marian Rodriguez, the cause of death was a heart attack.

Dr. Guidon gained international recognition for her controversial assertion that humans may have arrived in the Americas over 30,000 years ago. However, there was little dispute about her accomplishments in documenting and preserving ancient rock paintings in Piau’s semi-arid, cactus-laden landscape.

In 1979, following her claims, the Brazilian government designated the area as a national park, and by 1991, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, largely thanks to her efforts. She also played a crucial role in establishing two nearby museums: the American Museum opened in 1996, and the Natural Museum in 2018. Moreover, she was instrumental in attracting investment to the town, leading to the creation of a new airport and a federal university campus, thereby enhancing public education in the region.

Antoine Lourdes, a French archaeologist who collaborated with Dr. Guidon from 2006 for nearly a decade, remarked in an interview, “The most effective way to safeguard the paintings was to empower people to protect their environment.” He emphasized that many archaeologists are often unaware of the social implications of their work.

Dr. Guidon was particularly adept at training and employing women in regions where domestic violence and gender inequality prevailed. Dr. Guidon’s 2023 biography captures many poignant testimonies from women who achieved financial independence and improved their situations significantly.

In addition to her work in parks and museums, many locals have become guides and custodians. Local products like honey and ceramics are sold across the nation, thanks to an initiative Dr. Guidon launched in the 1990s.

Nide Guidon was born on March 12, 1933, in Hau, a small city in São Paulo. While “Nade” is a common Brazilian name, “Nide” is not. She was named after the River Need, which flows through France and Germany, reflecting her father’s French heritage.

After obtaining a degree in natural history from the University of São Paulo in 1958, Guidon began her career as a teacher in a small Roman Catholic community in Itápolis. However, following her exposure of corruption within the school system in early 1959, she faced backlash from the town’s administrators.

As a single woman who drove cars, publicly taught evolution, and challenged conservative norms, she became a target in the traditional town of Itápolis. Following intense protests, she and two colleagues were forced to flee with police protection.

“All that was missing to complete the medieval scene was a bonfire to burn witches,” she recounted to reporters at that time. A 2024 podcast delves into her life.

Later that year, she secured a position at the Paulista Museum in São Paulo, where her interest in archaeology blossomed, particularly during an exhibition showcasing rock paintings from northeastern Brazil.

However, her initial attempts to see the paintings in 1963 were thwarted by a bridge collapse that blocked access. Following a brief exile in Paris, she was arrested by the military dictatorship that had taken power in Brazil.

While studying archaeology in France, she earned her PhD from the University of Paris in 1975, returning to Brazil frequently for fieldwork. By 1970, Dr. Guidon finally visited the rock paintings in Piau, intrigued by their complexity, and began organizing teams for extensive cataloging of hundreds of archaeological sites.

She settled in San Raimundo Nonato in 1986, where she became known affectionately as “the doctor.”

In the 1990s, excavations near the painting sites uncovered carbon-dated materials suggesting human presence 30,000 years ago — a finding that astonished Dr. Guidon. Yet, other scientists, particularly those adhering to the Clovis model, were highly skeptical, proposing that humans arrived in the Americas much later, around 13,000 years ago.

While the consensus today acknowledges ancient human settlement in North America, Dr. Guidon’s findings continue to spark debate, as questions linger regarding the origins of the materials uncovered near the painted area.

Nevertheless, her work has drawn attention, funding, and resources to Piau, with even some of her academic critics recognizing her contributions.

Andre Strauss, an archaeologist at the University of São Paulo, expressed his doubts about some of Dr. Guidon’s findings but acknowledged her charisma. He likened her to Churchill, noting her ability to engage people dramatically. Despite the scholarly debates, she never abandoned the vibrant life she carved out in Paris.

On the morning of June 5th, she was laid to rest in the garden of her home in San Raimundo Nonato.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Preserving Gut Health: Using Gut-Friendly Antibiotics to Treat Lyme Disease

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Lyme disease can spread to people through mites

Heico Birth/Shutterstock

Antibiotics commonly used to absorb pneumonia remove Lyme disease mice at doses 100 times lower than standard antibiotic therapy. This small dose was combined with the targeted effect of the drug on infection, meaning that the animal’s gut microbiota was largely unaffected.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Borelia It spreads mostly among birds and small rodents, but people can get infected via the bites of mites that have given the blood of such animals. Infections generally lead to flu-like symptoms and a “bull” rash. Without treatment, it can cause serious long-term complications such as fatigue and pain.

Standard treatment involves taking the antibiotic doxycycline twice daily at high doses for up to three weeks. This will stop the production of the proteins needed for bacteria to survive, but will not selectively target them Borelia seed. “It will cause chaos normally [gut] It says microbiome. Brandon Footlas At Northwestern University, Illinois.

Looking for a more selective alternative, Jutras and his colleagues first tested how effective it is to have more than 450 antibiotics all approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Borrelia burgdorferi – The most common type of lab dishes that causes Lyme disease.

They then evaluated how best-performing drugs affected the growth of harmless or beneficial bacteria commonly found in people and mouse visceral organs, such as certain strains. E. coli. This revealed that piperacillin is associated with penicillin, commonly used in the treatment of pneumonia and is the most selective target. B. burgdorferi.

Next, the researchers injected 46 mice. B. burgdorferi. Three weeks later, they treated the animals with various doses of either doxycycline or piperacillin for a week. The researchers found that mice received either high doses of doxycycline or 100 times lower doses of piperacillin, with no signs of infection.

They also analyzed stools from mice before and after antibiotic treatment and found that low doses of piperacillin had little effect on bacterial levels. B. burgdorferi In the gut, high doses of doxycycline significantly altered the gut microbiota.

This is probably due to the low amount of antibiotics, which has less impact on intestinal microbial diversity and is the target action of piperacillin. “We found that using piperacillin is targeting certain proteins. B. burgdorferiit is very efficient to kill this Lyme disease agent at low concentrations, not other bacteria, to survive,” says Jutras.

But mice can respond differently to antibiotics than people, John Ocotte at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. For example, they often break down the drug faster, which can change its effectiveness. The Jutras team hopes to test piperacillin in human Lyme disease tests in the coming years.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The overlooked nutrient that can play a vital role in preserving brain health as you age

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Vitamin K is a crucial nutrient primarily found in green vegetables and may play a vital role in safeguarding the brain from cognitive decline.

Recent research suggests that vitamins, particularly vitamin K, could help in preserving the cells of the hippocampus, which is the brain’s memory center.

In a recent study, scientists conducted an experiment where 60 middle-aged mice were fed either low or regular diets supplemented with vitamin K for six months. Subsequent behavioral tests revealed the impact of vitamin K on mouse learning and memory.

The study showed that mice lacking vitamin K struggled with memory and learning tasks. Compared to mice on a regular diet, those deficient in vitamin K had difficulty recognizing familiar objects, indicating memory loss. They also faced challenges in spatial learning tasks, as evidenced by their performance in a water maze.

Green vegetables like spinach, kale, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage are excellent sources of vitamin K. Avocados and kiwi fruits also contain high levels of this nutrient – Credit: Mediterranean via Getty

Further analysis of the mice’s brain tissue revealed reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus of vitamin K-deficient mice. Neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons, is essential for maintaining brain health and protecting against damage.

“Neurogenesis is believed to be crucial for learning and memory functions, and its impairment may contribute to cognitive decline,” stated Ton Zheng, a research scientist at Tufts’ Center for Human Nutrition (HNRCA).

In addition to reduced neurogenesis, the brains of vitamin K-deficient mice also showed signs of inflammation, further linking vitamin K deficiency to cognitive decline.

While the study highlights the importance of vitamin K, researchers emphasize the significance of obtaining nutrients from a balanced diet rather than relying on supplements.

“It’s essential for people to consume a healthy diet rich in vegetables,” advised Professor Sarah Booth, senior author of the study and director of the HNRCA.

Most individuals typically obtain sufficient vitamin K from their diet, with sources like spinach, kale, peas, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, avocados, and kiwi. However, older adults are more prone to vitamin K deficiency.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Nutrition.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Preserving the Philippines’ largest flower for future generations

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Rafflesia panchoana on Mount Kemalgon in the Philippines

Chris Thorogood

rafflesia It is a parasitic plant that spends most of its life cycle inside its host tropical vine, emerging only to flower. Its flowers are the largest in the world, reaching a length of one meter. Despite this, little is known about its life cycle and it is almost impossible to grow.

Deceiver of Rizantes, a relative of Rafflesia in the hill forests of Bengkulu, Sumatra

Chris Thorogood

half of Rafflesia species Most of the organisms known to science have been described in the past 20 years, and since then most of them have come close to extinction. This is a plant at risk. On a recent visit to the Philippines, I saw the population shrinking to make way for agricultural crops. As is often the case, small farmers were in charge. They are simply people trying to make ends meet.

view of bungkulu

Chris Thorogood

What's the solution? Protecting habitat is the best safeguard.However, this only works if you know the location rafflesia It happens first. In many cases, this is not the case. Local community action groups are essential to monitor the population in this regard.

Showing the size of Rafflesia arnoldi in southern Bengkulu

Chris Thorogood


Beyond habitat conservation, most plants can be protected in seed banks and botanical gardens.but rafflesia It is a refractory parasite. The only botanical garden where it has been successfully cultivated is in Bogor, Indonesia. rafflesia-Infected vines are grafted onto new uninfected rootstock.

Chris Thorogood, Freddy Chavez, Adrian Tobias, and Pastor Malabrigo Jr. with Rafflesia grafts in the Sierra Madre Mountains of the Philippines.

Chris Thorogood

In 2022, my colleagues Pastor Malabrigo Jr. and Pastor Adrian Tobias from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and I went to Bogor to learn how to grow what cannot grow. When we returned to the Philippines, we conducted the first attempt in the history of this country. rafflesia Breeding within forest reserves.If our R. Panchoana If the transplant is successful, a template for propagation is created. rafflesia This species is on the verge of extinction in the Philippines.

Chris Thorogood (@thorogoodchris1) is Deputy Director of the Oxford University Botanic Garden and author of the following books: pathless forest

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Artificial Intelligence could assist in preserving historical scents that are in danger of disappearing

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Some scents are at risk of disappearing forever. Can AI reproduce them?

Brickwinkel/Alamy

Artificial intelligence can assemble formulas to recreate perfumes based on their chemical composition. One day, a single sample may be used to recreate rare scents that are at risk of being lost, such as incense from culturally specific rituals or forest scents that change as temperatures rise.

Idelfonso Nogueira Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology profiled two existing fragrances and determined their scent families (subjective words such as “spicy” and “musky” commonly used to describe perfumes); They classified them by a so-called “odor value” scale. About how strong certain smells are. For example, one of our fragrances received the highest odor value for ‘coumarin’, a group of scents similar to vanilla. The other received the highest odor value for the scent family “alcohol.”

To train the neural network, the researchers used a database of known molecules associated with specific fragrance notes. The AI ​​learned how to generate a set of molecules that match the odor score of each scent family in the sample fragrance.

But simply producing those molecules isn’t enough to recreate the desired scent, Nogueira says. That’s because the way we perceive smells is influenced by the physical and chemical processes that molecules go through when they interact with the air and skin. Immediately after spraying, the “top note” of a perfume is most noticeable, but it disappears within minutes as the molecules evaporate, and the “base note” can remain for several days. To address this, the team selected molecules produced by AI that evaporate under conditions similar to the original fragrance.

Finally, they again used AI to minimize the discrepancy between the odor value of the original mixture and the odor value of the AI-generated mixture. Their ultimate recipe for one of the fragrances showed a slight deviation regarding its “coumarin” and “sharp” notes, but the other appeared to be a very accurate replica.

Predicting the smell of chemicals is notoriously difficult, so the researchers used a limited number of molecules in their training data. But the process could become even more accurate if the database could be expanded to include more, more complex molecules, Nogueira says. He suggests that the perfume industry could use his AI to create recipes that create cheaper, more sustainable versions of fragrances.

richard gerkin Arizona State University and OsmoThe startup, which aims to teach computers how to generate smells the way AI does for images, says that combining AI with physics and chemistry is the strength of this approach, and that it understands how smells are generated. He says that this is because it can explain subtle points that are often overlooked, such as whether the image evaporates into water. But the effectiveness of this process still needs to be confirmed in human studies, he says.

Nogelia and his colleagues are already almost there. In a few weeks, he plans to travel to his colleague’s lab in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to experience the AI-generated scents for himself. “I’m really looking forward to smelling it,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Can Wasabi Aid in Preserving Ancient Egyptian Papyrus Artifacts?

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Ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls can be damaged by fungi

Paul Williams / Alamy

Wasabi steam is powerful enough to kill fungi growing on painted papyrus pieces without damaging the fragile craft or altering the appearance of the vibrant colors.

A unique disinfection strategy could help archaeologists and museums preserve documents written on paper made from the papyrus plant, which has been used for thousands of years in ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. “Biological degradation of papyrus is a global problem,” he says. Hanadi Saada At the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt.

Fungi can damage delicate papyrus, but some disinfectants can be harmful as well. So Sarda and his colleagues are researching less irritating, “greener” treatments. In this experiment, a paste of wasabi (a popular Japanese seasoning derived from a plant related to horseradish and mustard) was mixed and placed on aluminum foil next to a papyrus sample.

Instead of risking historic papyrus artifacts, researchers prepared replicas for experiments. Samples of modern papyrus were painted in different colors such as red, yellow, and blue and heated in an oven at 100°C (212°F) for 120 days to simulate the natural aging of papyrus over 1000 years. . Finally, they were exposed to several fungal species known to parasitize archaeological papyri.

After 3 days, wasabi treatment removed the fungal contamination without affecting the pigments of the papyrus samples. A follow-up test 1 month later showed the same results.

Current papyrus storage methods include folders lined with special blotting material to protect against changes in humidity, which it says is a “passive method to prevent fungal growth and deterioration.” I am. jessica byler At the Penn Museum in Pennsylvania.

However, Beiler acknowledges that using standard methods does not always guarantee fungal prevention, and that is why “our team of conservators is working to improve the environment in the field of conservation.” I'm interested in learning more about innovative technology.”

A team at the Grand Egyptian Museum is planning to use wasabi treatment on archaeological papyri. The researchers also plan to test whether the spicy condiment is equally effective at disinfecting other crafts made of wood, paper and textiles.

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Source: www.newscientist.com