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Pompeii’s Construction Site Unveils the Secrets of Roman Concrete Production

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Ceramic roof tiles and tuff blocks uncovered at an ancient construction site in Pompeii

Pompeii Archaeological Park

A recently uncovered ancient building site in Pompeii, preserved since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, has enabled archaeologists to finally understand the process behind Roman concrete production.

Located near Naples, Pompeii was entombed under layers of volcanic ash in 79 AD. Excavation efforts commenced in the 1880s but were halted until early 2023, when extensive new diggings began.

The latest excavations revealed a nearly intact concrete workshop, featuring inscriptions on the walls detailing work schedules and material quantities. Numerous concrete tools, heaps of quicklime, and salvaged roof tiles were also discovered.

Admija Masic of the MIT research team expressed amazement at the site’s remarkable preservation, stating it provides insights into Roman concrete techniques that “laboratory recreations simply cannot achieve.”

“The material was just as it was at the moment the eruption halted the city,” Masic mentioned. “Studying it felt as if I were transported back to 79 A.D., standing beside the workers mixing and pouring concrete.”

The team’s revelations indicate that established assumptions about Roman concrete production should be reconsidered.

Historical records suggest that Romans utilized slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) for concrete, combining it with water before mixing it with other components like volcanic ash.

Contrarily, chemical analyses of dry, premixed materials found in Pompeian workshops show that ancient builders actually employed a hot mixing technique using quicklime, or calcium oxide. This method involved combining the lime with all other ingredients including volcanic ash and minerals, before adding water, which was heated as a result of the chemical reaction, causing some concrete to set.

“Our findings demonstrate that quicklime was crucial to structural concrete,” Masic states. “In contrast, slaked lime was typically used for finish mortar and plaster, where a smooth surface and workability were paramount.”

The hot-mixing method offers the advantage of lime remnants, known as crusts, remaining in the concrete post-hardening, which can autonomously heal small cracks and defects.

“These lime fragments serve as reservoirs of calcium that can dissolve and recrystallize in crevices and fractures, or interact with volcanic ash to enhance the microstructure of the concrete,” Masić explains.

A modern concrete worker would easily understand the Roman concrete-making technique at Pompeii and could seamlessly transition into the workshop to start working, he states. “The chemistry is ancient, yet the technology is readily recognizable.”

Historic Herculaneum – explore Vesuvius, Pompeii, and ancient Naples

Embark on a captivating expedition through the remnants of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum, where history and archaeology unfold.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Bolivian Fossil Site Captures Thousands of Cretaceous Dinosaur Footprints, Tail Marks, and Swim Trails

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The Carreras Pampas archaeological site within Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park has documented 1,321 tracks and 289 isolated footprints, totaling 16,600 theropod dinosaur footprints. Additionally, 280 swim tracks have been identified, amounting to 1,378 swim tracks in total. Some of the tracks include tail traces.

Dinosaur footprints at the Carreras Pampas Stadium in Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park. Image credit: Esperante et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335973.

Bolivia boasts one of the most comprehensive and diverse records of dinosaur footprints globally, covering the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

Despite the abundance of track sites, there has been limited scientific research published.

A recent study led by paleontologist Raul Esperante from the Institute of Geosciences, along with his colleagues, has documented an extraordinary variety of dinosaur footprints at the Carreras Pampas site in Toro Toro National Park.

In nine different study areas, the research team uncovered 16,600 footprints left by three-toed theropod dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous.

These footprints vary in size from small (less than 10 cm) to large (over 30 cm) and capture a range of dinosaur behaviors, including running, swimming, tail dragging, and abrupt turns.

“The waist height of most (80%) of the trackmakers was between 65 cm and 1.15 meters, with a significant portion measuring between 75 cm and 1.05 meters,” stated the paleontologist.

“Interestingly, very few trackmakers exceeded 1.25 meters in height.”

The majority of these footprints are oriented approximately northwest to southeast, and the sediments retain ripple marks, indicating that these dinosaurs traversed ancient shorelines.

“The Carreras Pampas track set a new world record for the number of individual dinosaur footprints, continuous tracks, tail marks, and swimming marks,” the researchers noted.

“This exceptional frequency suggests it was a heavily trafficked area, and the parallel alignment of some footprints may imply groups of dinosaurs traveled together.”

“Numerous more footprints at this site and other locations in Bolivia remain to be studied,” they added.

“This site offers a remarkable glimpse into the region’s past. It reveals not only how many dinosaurs inhabited the area but also their behaviors during migration.”

“It’s truly incredible to work here, as the ground is covered with dinosaur footprints wherever you look.”

The team’s findings were published in the online journal PLoS ONE.

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R. Esperante et al. 2025. Morphology, preservation, and taphonomy of dinosaur footprints, tail prints, and swim tracks in the world’s largest athletic arena: Carreras Pampas, Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia (Upper Cretaceous). PLoS One 20 (12): e0335973; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335973

Source: www.sci.news

The Moon Could Soon Be the Site of Humanity’s Wildest Experiments

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What would occur if a Super Collider encircled the moon? Surprisingly, scientists and engineers are intrigued by the concept of a Super Collider of the Moon.

This type of machine operates similarly to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN near Geneva, which is the world’s most extensive and highest-energy particle accelerator. These “atomic smashers” generate two beams of particles that travel in opposing directions through ultra-high navigational rings.

A robust superconducting electromagnet propels the beams to nearly the speed of light. When these beams collide with detector instruments, they produce a cascade of additional particles that can be measured and analyzed.

The greater the energy of the particles involved, the more substantial the mass of the collider’s “products”.

Numerous inquiries in contemporary particle physics necessitate exploring this high mass parameter space. Consequently, physicists are eager to construct larger, more powerful colliders. The moon, in this case, serves as an ideal location.

One study from 2022 explored the concept of atomic smashers surrounding the moon, spanning approximately 11,000 km (6,835 miles). This collider could operate at 1,000 times the energy of the LHC, enabling physicists to search for new particles and phenomena.

The Large Hadron Collider has enabled us to deduce important properties of dark matter. A nuclear clock may further illuminate this enigmatic material that constitutes most of the universe. – Photo Credit: Getty Images

While it is challenging to foresee the discoveries that such an enormous accelerator might yield, scientists hope it could provide insights into the evolution of the universe and its colossal structures.

But why construct these machines on the moon instead of Earth? Essentially, it boils down to real estate. Colliders exceeding 10,000 km (6,214 miles) in diameter present numerous geological, technical, and political challenges on our planet.

Conversely, the moon offers several advantages. Building a circular tunnel beneath its surface and maintaining the essential superconducting ring would be easier (and more cost-effective).

Additionally, the moon is more geologically stable than Earth and has a plentiful supply of solar energy.

Engineers estimate that establishing a Super Collider on the moon would take over 20 years, assuming human presence is established there. Thus, the prospect of a “Mega-Collider” materializing in this century appears slim.

This article addresses the question posed by Faye Holmes via email: “What if we made a Super Collider around the Moon?”

Please reach out to us with your questions at Question @sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Page (don’t forget to include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

For centuries, the Iron Age site functioned as a purple dye factory

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Stoneware with purple dye residue found at Tel Shiqmona, Israel

Maria Bukin/Shalvi et al. , 2025, Plos One, CC-By 4.0

For centuries, modern Israeli coastal settlements have been home to industrial scale production from marine snails of purple dye, one of the most precious commodities in the ancient world.

Known as Tyrian Purple, it was particularly sought to color wool fabrics, and was highly regarded by wealthy and powerful people in Iron Age Mediterranean society. However, up until now, direct evidence of large-scale production sites has been sparse.

From 1100 BC to about 900 BC, Tel Shiqmona was a small Phoenician fishing village, producing small scale purple dyes. Later, when the Kingdom of Israel began to expand, the site said it had “transformed from a fishing village into a fortified purple dye production centre. Golan Charvy At the University of Chicago.

During archaeological research at the site, Sharvi and his colleagues discovered the remains of dye-dyed debris used to treat the material. 176 artifacts related to the production of purple dyes were collected, including 135 purple dye items.

The dye secretes mucus to protect itself and to kill prey. “The secretion is initially a slightly greenish fluid that oxidizes upon exposure to air and gradually turns purple,” says Sharvi. “However, to convert it into a real dye (something that chemically binds to textiles), it must be processed into solution through a complex series of chemical steps.”

Researchers argue that Tel Shiqmona is the only site in the world with clear evidence of the large-scale production of purple dyes in specialized facilities for a long time.

However, there is no historical record linking the site to the dye, and little is known about the actual process used to manufacture it, Shalvi says.

After the Kingdom of Israel fell around 720 BC, the scale of dye production fell until the Assyrians took over the site and increased the process again. When the Babylonians conquered the area around 600 BC, dye production at Tel Shiqmona was abandoned.

“It was most industrial sites in the Iron Age, and there was no monumental architecture or any particular beauty or elegance,” says Sharvi. “I think it’s a very smelly place, especially in modern noses, as the production process has produced a terrible smell. I imagine wool fleece dyed in various shades that are dry on the outside and inside of the building.

Purple dyes have captivated people all over the world, he says, and it has been the subject of extensive research. “The relationship with elite classes and religious rituals has grown in cultural, symbolic and economic significance, far beyond its function as mere colour.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly discovered archaeological site illuminates Neanderthal hunting skills and adaptability

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Archaeological sequence Abrik Pissarro ruins The southeastern Pre-Pyrenees About MIS4 (about 71,000 years ago), a little-known period in Neanderthal history.

Iberian Neanderthals sampled wild mushrooms, pine nuts, and forest moss. Image by Abel Grau, CSIC Communication.

A team of archaeologists led by the Australian National University has collected hundreds of thousands of artefacts at the Abric Pizarro site, including stone tools, animal bones and other evidence, providing crucial data about Neanderthal lifestyles.

The discovery reveals that Neanderthals were able to adapt to their environment, calls into question archaic humans' reputation as slow-footed cavemen, and sheds light on their survival and hunting abilities.

“Our results show that Neanderthals knew how to best exploit their area and territory, and were able to withstand harsh climatic conditions,” said archaeologist Sophia Samper-Caro of the Australian National University.

“The amazing finds at Abric Pizarro show how adaptable the Neanderthals were. The animal bones we found show that they made good use of the fauna around them, hunting red deer, horses and bison, but also eating freshwater turtles and rabbits. This suggests a level of planning that is rarely associated with Neanderthals.”

“These new findings call into question the widely held belief that Neanderthals only hunted large animals such as horses and rhinos.”

“The bones we found contain cut marks, providing direct evidence that Neanderthals were able to hunt small animals.”

“The bones at this site are so well preserved that you can see traces of how the Neanderthals handled and butchered these animals.”

“Analysis of stone tools also shows a great deal of diversity in the types of tools made, indicating that Neanderthals were capable of exploiting the resources available in their region.”

By uncovering this critical transition period, archaeologists are one step closer to solving a mystery that has vexed researchers for decades: what caused the Neanderthals to go extinct?

“The discovery of sites like Abric Pizarro from this particular, poorly documented period gives us information about how Neanderthals lived and shows that they were thriving at a time when modern humans were not yet in the area,” Dr Samper-Caro said.

“The unique site of Abric Pissarro offers us a glimpse into the behaviour of Neanderthals in the landscape they roamed for hundreds of thousands of years.”

“The Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago. All of a sudden, we modern humans showed up in this part of the Pyrenees and the Neanderthals disappeared. But before that, the Neanderthals had been living in Europe for almost 300,000 years.”

“They obviously knew what they were doing. They knew the area and they knew how to survive for a long period of time.”

“One of the most fascinating aspects of this site is that it provides unique information about a time when Neanderthals lived alone in harsh conditions and how they thrived before the arrival of modern humans.”

Thanks to modern excavation techniques, Abric Pizarro and other nearby sites provide detailed data for understanding Neanderthal behavior.

“We make a 3D plot of each and every bone found that is larger than one or two centimetres,” Dr Sampar Karo said.

“This slows down the work – excavations at some sites have been going on for over 20 years – but the result is that the sites are documented with unparalleled accuracy.”

“We're interested in how all these different pieces of data, from stone tools to bones to hearths, relate to each other.”

“This more thorough excavation will provide archaeologists with information about how Neanderthals lived and how long they were in the area.”

“It's not just the individual item that gives us clues, but knowing where it is found in relation to other items at the site helps us understand how and when Neanderthals visited these sites. Did they settle there or were they just passing through?”

of result Appears in Journal of Archaeological Sciences.

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Sophia C. Samper-Caro others2024. Living dangerously: Abrik Pissarro, a MIS 4 Neanderthal site in the lowermost foothills of the southeastern Pre-Pyrenees (Lleida, Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Archaeological Sciences 169: 106038; doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106038

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists say wealth inequality between households is avoided at the vast Trypillia site

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The Trypilyan culture flourished in western/central Ukraine, Moldova and eastern Romania for over two millennia, from the end of the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (5400-2700 BC).

Re-creation of the Maidanetske Giants settlement in Tripoli, Ukraine. Image by Kenny Arne Lang Antonsen / CC BY-SA 4.0.

of Tripilian culture Neolithic European culture, Happened In the 5th millennium BC, it extended from the Seret and Bug rivers in Ukraine south to present-day Romania and Moldova, and east to the Dnieper River.

Also known as the Cucuteni-Trypillarian culture, it was characterized by advanced agriculture, advanced metallurgy, pottery making, sophisticated architecture and social organization.

Tripoli society was matrilineal, with women heading the household and working in agriculture, pottery, weaving and clothing production, while hunting, livestock rearing and tool making were the responsibilities of men.

“Around 4200-3600 BC the so-called huge site of Trypilia was established at the northern limit of the Pontic steppe,” said Dr Robert Hoffmann from the University of Kiel and his colleagues.

“With an area of ​​up to 320 hectares and around 10,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest prehistoric settlements in Europe.”

“These settlements were established in partly open forest-steppe areas with very fertile loess soils.”

“They were agricultural settlements inhabited all year round, with an economy based on cereal and legume cultivation and intensive, large-scale livestock farming, primarily cattle.”

Distribution of Tripilian sites surveyed by region, with sample size and Gini coefficient. Image courtesy of Hoffman. others., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.18.

Archaeologists used variation in the size of 7,000 houses in 38 settlements to explore changing levels of inequality in three geographic regions of the Cucuteni-Trypillarian culture.

“We believe that the new social organization of the mega-institution allows residents to actively participate in the political decision-making process,” Dr. Hoffman explained.

“Such reformist nature at the time may have been the catalyst for the great attraction of these settlements, resulting in many people joining these communities.”

“We took advantage of the variation in house size in 38 settlements in Tripilia and used the Gini coefficient to calculate how the level of inequality changed in the three geographical regions over a 2000-year period,” said Dr Nils Müller-Schösel, an archaeologist at the University of Kiel.

“Our analysis shows that there was little change in the size of houses between 4300 and 3800 BC.”

“We can infer low levels of social inequality at the megalithic site of Trypillia between 4300 and 3800 BC.”

“The Tripilian community must have had effective mechanisms to prevent social inequalities,” said Professor Johannes Müller of Kiel University.

“This could have included mechanisms for balancing interests and redistributing surpluses.”

“The development of differences in house size and political institutions suggests that opportunities for participation in political decision-making processes deteriorated over time and that the original egalitarian principles of the settlement founders were gradually abandoned.”

“The result has been widening social inequalities and widening gaps in prosperity.”

“In our opinion, this was a crucial factor in the subsequent gradual disappearance of the large megasites,” Dr Hoffman said.

“The phenomenon of megasites is part of a series of historical cases that show that increasing social complexity does not necessarily go hand in hand with increasing vertical social differentiation.”

“Rather, the emergence and collapse of these large settlements was based on democratic political decisions made by the individuals and communities who lived there and ultimately decided to leave.”

Team work Published in the April 2024 issue Ancient.

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Robert Hoffman others2024. The Tripiglia megasite: a social equalizing concept? Ancient 98(398):380-400; Source: 10.15184/aqy.2024.18

Source: www.sci.news

New bovid fossil found by paleontologists at Cradle of Humankind site

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chrome dry A Pliocene-Pleistocene ruin in South Africa, the cradle of humanity. It has produced a diverse and rich animal community as well as important human specimens, including: Paranthropus robustus and early homo. Paleontologists have unearthed bovid fossils from 2.9 to 1.8 million years old at Kromdraai, revealing the existence of an unknown species that once roamed this ancient grassland with our ancestors.

Hanon other. It vividly depicts a landscape dominated by vast grasslands and suggests the complex interactions of life that flourished in this region during the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods. Image credit: Wits University.

Dr Raphael Hannon, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, said: “When we think of paleontology, images of dinosaurs often come to mind, but the study of modern animals such as the bovidae is also important.''

“Bovids are diverse and successful in Africa, providing insight into both ancient and modern ecosystems.”

“Their evolutionary history is intertwined with ours. They have been an important part of landscapes and human societies since the Miocene epoch, about 23 million years ago.”

Bovidae is a member of the family Bovidaemodern water buffalo, antelope, and gazelle.

Their diversity and abundance at the Kromdraai site provides a glimpse into the diet and behavior of both large carnivores and our ancient relatives.

As prey, these animals shaped the predation patterns of the region's megafauna and, in turn, influenced the survival strategies of hominids. Paranthropus robustus and early homo seed.

Discovery of extinct species such as gazelles Gazella giant gazella and the existence of an as-yet-unnamed buffalo closely related to it Sincerus acoelotus It represents a grassland-dominated environment.

This finding is supported by comparisons with other Plio-Pleistocene sites across South Africa, suggesting that different hominid species are associated with different habitats.

meanwhile Australopithecus Early on, it seemed to prefer forests and closed, moist environments. homo The species is found in areas adapted to open, dry conditions.

Diverse bovids related to paranthropusHowever, it has been suggested that these hominids have a wide range of environmental adaptability.

“One of the biggest challenges was the small buffalo skull (Sinceras sp.),” Dr. Hannon said.

“The skull was discovered as dozens of small broken bone fragments, but we spent many hours and were able to put most of the pieces back together, allowing us to determine what animal it belonged to. I did it.”

“Even after reinstalling all the parts, it was very fragile and difficult to manipulate and locate.”

“The fossil record of African buffalo is poor, especially in South Africa, so finding relevant information to help identify the skull was difficult.”

The significance of these discoveries extends beyond the mere identification of ancient animals.

The bovid community of Kromdraai is a mix of older Pliocene and younger Pleistocene taxa, providing a window into the changing landscape of ancient Africa.

These changes recorded in bovid bones and teeth reflect the dynamic nature of Earth's ecosystems and the adaptability of life in the face of changing climate and habitat.

Furthermore, studies of these fossils provide a chronological marker for this site, with biochronology showing that Kromdraai Unit P accumulated between 2.9 and 1.8 million years ago.

This range is critical to understanding the timeline of human evolution in this region and provides potential insights into the emergence of humans. Paranthropus robustus and other important species of southern Africa.

“The Kromdraai ruins continue to be evidence of the richness of our Earth's past, inviting scientists and enthusiasts alike to ponder the complex relationship between Earth's history and our origins. “We invite you,” the authors said.

Regarding this research, paper in diary Quaternary Science Review.

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Raphael Hannon other. 2024. New fossil bovidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) discovered from Cromdraai Unit P, South Africa and their implications for biochronology and human paleoecology. Quaternary Science Review 331: 108621; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108621

Source: www.sci.news

Students Implicated in Cyber Fraud After Police Discover Involvement in Massive Phishing Site

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Police have uncovered a disturbing trend among university students, who are resorting to cyber fraud to boost their income. They have managed to infiltrate a large phishing site on the dark web that has defrauded tens of thousands of individuals.

The site, known as LabHost, has been operational since 2021 and serves as a hub for cyber fraud, enabling users to create realistic-looking websites mimicking reputable companies like major banks. It has ensnared 70,000 users globally, including 70,000 individuals in the UK.

Victims unknowingly provided sensitive information, which was then used to siphon money from their accounts. The perpetrators behind the site profited by selling this stolen data on the dark web to other fraudsters.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the primary victims fall within the 25-44 age bracket, with a significant portion of their activities carried out online.

Law enforcement authorities have apprehended one of the alleged masterminds behind the site, along with 36 other suspects detained in the UK and abroad. The arrests were made at various airports in Manchester, Luton, Essex, and London.

British police are facing mounting pressure to demonstrate their effectiveness in combating the rising tide of cyber fraud.

Despite the relatively small impact of dismantling this particular site, the police intend to dismantle additional cyber fraud operations to undermine the confidence of criminals who believe they can act with impunity.

While fraud and cybercrime present considerable challenges for law enforcement agencies, they often compete for resources with other policing priorities, such as safeguarding children and enhancing women’s safety.

LabHost managed to amass significant amounts of sensitive data, including 480,000 debit or credit card numbers and 64,000 PIN numbers, generating over £1 million in membership fees from 2,000 individuals who paid in cryptocurrency.

The company lured users with tutorial videos on committing crimes using the site and on utilizing new consumer products. It promised quick installation of software in five minutes and offered “customer service” in case of any issues.

DI Oliver Richter noted the shift in cyber fraud from requiring technical skills like coding to now being accessible to individuals ranging from late teens to late 20s, many of whom are college students.

He expressed concern that these users may not fully grasp the risks and consequences of their actions, assuming anonymity and ease of operation.

Following the dismantling of the site, 800 users received warnings that the police were aware of their activities.

Detective Inspector Helen Rance, head of the Metropolitan Police’s cybercrime unit, described the LabHost bust as a sophisticated operation targeting those who have commercialized fraudulent activities. She highlighted collaboration with 17 factions globally, both in the public and private sectors.

She emphasized the success of penetrating the service, identifying the perpetrators, and understanding the scale of their illicit operations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The devastating effects of the Ashley Madison dating site hack | Podcast

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I
If you listened to Stephen Fry's recent podcast, you may have been confused. The recording of MS Singh's The Missing Lines was cut off after just 2 minutes and 48 seconds and his next 9 chapters were left silent. However, this was not a mistake. It was a trick to raise awareness of the people who go missing every 90 seconds.

This isn't the first time a podcast has been used as a stunt. Joe Lycett recently announced Turdcast. This is a podcast where celebrities talk about their poop, including Gary Lineker and his amazing 1990 World Cup pitching poop. However, this footage was never made public. Lycett used this as an opportunity to highlight the government's response to the sewage leak crisis.

“For you, it probably means something like frustration,” Frye said of his “Broken” podcast. Sure, it might be a slightly annoying realization that makes you feel a little silly after hooking up on a walk, but it's definitely an effective way to get your message across.

The five podcasts are absolutely This week's picks include a fascinating series about Eunice Carter, the first black woman to serve as a prosecutor in the United States. Keep reading to find out the best podcasts that ended right away.

Holly Richardson
TV Deputy Editor-in-Chief

This week's picks




Oona Chaplin, host of Hollywood Exiles. Photo: Antonio Olmos


godmother
Wide range of weekly episodes available


Nicole Perkins' new podcast is set in 1936 New York, where gangster Lucky Luciano is on trial, but there's a much more interesting story behind it: that of lawyer Eunice Carter. It's about time Carter, who has been described as “the spark that started the fire” as America's first black female prosecutor, gets props. Perkins portrays an outspoken lawyer who brought Luciano to court, but was sidelined and kept out of the spotlight by the rules of the day.

Hannah Verdier


Understanding public housing
Tortoise Media, episodes every Wednesday

In this exasperating mini-series that brings the housing crisis to a close, one housing association reveals that when low-income people apply for affordable housing, they can be forced to wait eight to 10 years on a waiting list along with 800 others. It says that there is a sex. Jeevan Basagar speaks to people who rely on public housing and those who work in the system, showing them exactly how bad the situation is. Holly Richardson


hollywood exile
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes

Oona Chaplin from Game of Thrones hosts this podcast and talks about how her grandfather Charlie was forced out of Hollywood during the anti-communist movement. From her life in a workhouse in Lambeth to owning a Hollywood studio, Chaplin achieved her American dream until she was investigated by the FBI. HV


ghost in the machine
Wide range of weekly episodes available

There has been an uproar after 19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driesche was found to have a motor installed on her bike. But was she a scammer, or was she a victim? Kris Marshall Bell tells this very strange story with passion, chronicling death threats, unbelievable allegations about doped pigeons, and anger from his competitors. HV

Revealed: The Ashley Madison Hack
Widely available, all episodes released on Wednesdays
When no-strings-attached dating site Ashley Madison was hacked, scammers were horrified as their personal information and desires were exposed. The series tells elaborate hacking stories with subtlety and a touch of romance, while explaining the connections users have made and the fear they've felt in the face of moral judgment. HV

There's a podcast for that




Phoebe Robinson (left) and Jessica Williams in 2019. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO

this week, Hannah Verdier Choose the 5 best podcasts it ended too soonfrom Starry Cain's weird and wonderful investigations to Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams' comedy masterpieces.

mystery show
Starry Cain's offbeat investigation was the perfect antidote to the true crime reign of 2015 in the podcast world. Cain's storytelling is impeccable, but her podcast ended after her six sweet episodes due to what Gimlet mysteriously described as “business reasons.” During that season, a big question was asked: “How tall is Jake Gyllenhaal?” More complicated questions, like why Britney Spears was photographed holding an obscure self-help book by Andrea Siegel. There is also a search for a treasured belt buckle, a missing video store, and a lunch box.

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butterfly effect
Jon Ronson's quick jump into the free porn industry lasted only one season

Source: www.theguardian.com

Small businesses fill advertising vacuum left behind by departing blue-chip companies on X site

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Small business owners are trying to capitalize on the shift of big advertisers away from X, betting that this will allow them to reach a wider audience on the platform. a source told On the Money.

Amid controversy over anti-Semitism, big advertisers like Disney, IBM and Comcast are siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars in ad dollars from Elon Musk’s social network, while some small business owners He says he is secretly grateful for this drama and is using it as an opportunity. Buy ads cheap.

“I’m not competing with the big boys anymore,” one executive said of the decision to start buying ads on X. “All the top investors and prominent businessmen I want to reach are still on the platform.”

The decline in advertising is a big problem for the company formerly known as Twitter. Although X is pushing growth in other business areas, 75% of the company’s revenue still comes from advertising, and 80% of advertising revenue comes from advertising for large companies, the source added.


Although X is driving growth in other business areas, 75% of the company’s revenue still comes from advertising. Paola Morongello

Bloomberg reported this week that X is expected to earn $2.5 billion in ad revenue this year, which is lower than the $3 billion advertisers expected it to earn this year, and that X will earn $4 billion in ad revenue in 2022. It is said that it will not reach much. .

But X is leaning toward disaster for lack of a better option, and I added a blog post to that effect this week.

“We want to do more for SMBs. With X, we are positioned to be the single interface for SMBs.”

An X spokesperson highlighted the fact that small and medium-sized businesses can easily buy advertising on the platform without going through an agency, don’t have to sign long-term contracts, and can spend whatever amount they want.

One advertiser said some amount of hate speech on the platform was “inevitable” but said the return of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was enough to make them temporarily reconsider their ad spend. . “I’m furious with Elon…why would he do something like that?”

Last month, Musk told advertisers to “pick themselves up.” Even though he acknowledged that the platform could fail without advertisers.

When it comes to user experience, many people at X say they’ve seen a hodgepodge of random advertisers lately.

“I’ve received the most random ads – Invest Qatar, Investor’s Edge, Next After – and I’ve never heard of any of them,” said one source who started noticing the random ads. “It’s like we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.”

Source: nypost.com