Shroud of Turin burial cloth was never laid on Jesus' body but a sculpture, scientists claim
The mystery surrounding one of the world's most famous religious relics may finally be solved, according to new research.
The Shroud of Turin, a length of linen believed to have been used to wrap Jesus after his death on the cross, draws thousands of faithful visitors every year.
The cloth bears the image of a man after Crucifixion, leading believers to claim it was the very shroud that bore Christ's body.
For all the latest science and technology news — download the news.com.au app direct to your phone.
The Holy Shroud shown at the Cathedral of Turin, Italy. Picture: Antonio Calanni/AP
Yet it has been the centre of controversy and debate for centuries.
Sceptics suggest the shroud is nothing more than a hoax dating to the Middle Ages.
But a new study published in the journal Archaeometry seems to have put the debate to rest.
The 14 foot-long linen is revered by some as the burial cloth of Jesus. Picture: Supplied
Brazilian 3D digital designer Cicero Moraes used digital modelling software to reach his final conclusion.
He believes the shroud was never wrapped around Jesus' body, based on a study using 3D imaging tech.
'The Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,' he wrote.
Cicero Moraes used digital modelling software to study the shroud. Picture: Cicero Moraes/Pen News
Mr Moraes argues that the imprints on the linen could only have been made by a sculpture, not an actual person's body.
For his research, Mr Moraes compared two different digital 3D bodies.
One was that of a human body, and the other was a low-relief sculpture.
Mr Moraes compared two different digital 3D bodies. Picture: Cicero Moraes/Pen News
He then used 3D simulation tools to digitally drape a shroud over each of them.
Mr Moraes compared both to pictures of the Shroud of Turin.
He found that the low-relief sculpture was a worthy match for the centuries-old relic, while the one based on a human was more distorted.
The Shroud has been the centre of controversy and debate for centuries. Picture: Supplied
This is down to a phenomenon called the Agammemnon Mask Effect — named after a wide death mask found in Greece.
The effect sets out that if someone pressed their face against a paper towel, it would be wide and distorted — and would not accurately reflect the individual's features.
'The image on the Shroud of Turin is more consistent with a low-relief matrix,' Mr Moraes told Live Science.
A 3D recreation from the History Channel TV show The Real Face of Jesus. Picture: Supplied
'Such a matrix could have been made of wood, stone or metal and pigmented — or even heated — only in the areas of contact, producing the observed pattern.'
Accusations that the Turin Shroud is a fake have been around since its first recorded mentions in the 14th century.
More recently, carbon dating analysis has placed its likely time of creation somewhere between 1260 and 1390AD.
Mr Moraes thinks it is likely the shroud was made in a funerary context, and is a 'masterpiece of Christian art'.
He wrote that it is 'plausible to consider that artists or sculptors with sufficient knowledge could have created such a piece, either through painting or low relief'.
However, it's unlikely that Mr Moraes' work will being an end to speculation over the shroud's veracity.
University of Padua professor Giulio Fanti has claimed in a study that the blood stain patterns offer evidence that the shroud is the real deal, according to the NY Post.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Shroud of Turin burial cloth was never laid on Jesus' body but a sculpture, scientists claim
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The Australian
20 hours ago
- The Australian
Research uncovers unexpected benefits of snacking before bedtime
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For snackers – 95 per cent of UK adults have a snacking habit, according to research conducted at Kings College London (KCL) - that is welcome news. 'Not all night snacking is inherently bad and a nutrient-dense snack may even support better sleep for some people,' says Alex Ruani, a nutrition researcher at University College London and chief science educator at the Health Sciences Academy. 'Also, going to bed hungry can actually make it harder to fall asleep, especially if you had an early or light dinner, so a snack might offset that grumbling tummy.' In the KCL study snackers were shown to be healthier than non-snackers. 'They tended to have better BMIs and waist circumferences than people who don't snack at all,' says Dr Frederica Amati, research fellow and nutrition lead at Imperial College London's School of Public Health. And while the research did show that timing matters, it was less damning of evening intake than might have been expected. Only snacking after 9pm was associated with poorer blood markers – people who snacked at this time tended to eat sugary, high fat and more processed foods. 'It's less about 'the clock' and more about choosing snacks carefully and leaving enough time before bed, ideally avoiding eating immediately before lying down, as that can cause digestive discomfort or reflux that may disrupt sleep,' Ruani says. What about the weight gain associated with eating at night? 'Night snacks will mainly lead to weight gain only if they consistently push you into a calorie surplus,' Ruani says. 'But for some the right type of snack last thing may help to regulate appetite and reduce overeating the next day, which would have a positive effect on weight.' Of course, the message is to take your hand out of the tortilla chips packet and not to spoon ice cream from the tub last thing. So what do the experts do instead? Ruani snacks on cashews or pistachios 45 minutes to an hour before bedtime. 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'Having something like a yoghurt or oatmeal with kefir at night might help to maintain the nitrogen balance that is important for protein metabolism over the 24-hour period in your sixties and seventies.' Are pistachios the ultimate night-time snack? Most nuts are good for us and, within reason, snacking on them boosts diet quality, helps to protect against heart disease and, according to a 2025 study published in Clinical Nutrition improves the health profile of adults at risk for metabolic disease. But what about eating nuts at night? Amati says she keeps Kilner jars of nuts on standby in her kitchen in case of an evening snack attack and Ruani favours pistachios, recently shown to be a winner in the war against type 2 diabetes. It is sometimes recommended that adults with prediabetes, defined as higher than normal blood sugar, eat a night-time snack of 15-30g carbohydrates, such as one or two slices of wholegrain bread, to regulate blood sugar levels overnight, the scientists said. 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I've heard that eating cottage cheese at night will aid recovery from workouts Eating two tablespoons of cottage cheese before bed was shown to have a positive effect on repair and regeneration of muscles and on general health, with no negative effect on metabolism or hunger levels the following morning. In a study of active women in their twenties at Florida State University, physiologists suggested that cottage cheese is as effective as commercial protein shakes and supplements - only much cheaper. 'Cottage cheese is another source of casein, a slow-digesting protein that supports overnight muscle repair, particularly useful if you're very active,' Ruani says. Should I take a banana and warm milk to help me sleep better? It's a combo that was shown in a 2024 study by health scientists in Turkey to improve sleep, regulate appetite hormones and reduce insomnia. Rhiannon Lambert, a registered nutritionist and author of The Science of Plant-Based Nutrition, says bananas and milk both contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that serves as a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, neurotransmitters that help regulate mood and the sleep-wake cycle. 'Milk also provides calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan to manufacture melatonin more effectively,' Lambert says. 'Additionally, bananas are rich in magnesium and potassium, minerals that support muscle relaxation.' The Times Read related topics: HealthNutrition
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Shroud of Turin burial cloth was never laid on Jesus' body but a sculpture, scientists claim
Don't miss out on the headlines from Science. Followed categories will be added to My News. The mystery surrounding one of the world's most famous religious relics may finally be solved, according to new research. The Shroud of Turin, a length of linen believed to have been used to wrap Jesus after his death on the cross, draws thousands of faithful visitors every year. The cloth bears the image of a man after Crucifixion, leading believers to claim it was the very shroud that bore Christ's body. For all the latest science and technology news — download the app direct to your phone. The Holy Shroud shown at the Cathedral of Turin, Italy. Picture: Antonio Calanni/AP Yet it has been the centre of controversy and debate for centuries. Sceptics suggest the shroud is nothing more than a hoax dating to the Middle Ages. But a new study published in the journal Archaeometry seems to have put the debate to rest. The 14 foot-long linen is revered by some as the burial cloth of Jesus. Picture: Supplied Brazilian 3D digital designer Cicero Moraes used digital modelling software to reach his final conclusion. He believes the shroud was never wrapped around Jesus' body, based on a study using 3D imaging tech. 'The Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,' he wrote. Cicero Moraes used digital modelling software to study the shroud. Picture: Cicero Moraes/Pen News Mr Moraes argues that the imprints on the linen could only have been made by a sculpture, not an actual person's body. For his research, Mr Moraes compared two different digital 3D bodies. One was that of a human body, and the other was a low-relief sculpture. Mr Moraes compared two different digital 3D bodies. Picture: Cicero Moraes/Pen News He then used 3D simulation tools to digitally drape a shroud over each of them. Mr Moraes compared both to pictures of the Shroud of Turin. He found that the low-relief sculpture was a worthy match for the centuries-old relic, while the one based on a human was more distorted. The Shroud has been the centre of controversy and debate for centuries. Picture: Supplied This is down to a phenomenon called the Agammemnon Mask Effect — named after a wide death mask found in Greece. The effect sets out that if someone pressed their face against a paper towel, it would be wide and distorted — and would not accurately reflect the individual's features. 'The image on the Shroud of Turin is more consistent with a low-relief matrix,' Mr Moraes told Live Science. A 3D recreation from the History Channel TV show The Real Face of Jesus. Picture: Supplied 'Such a matrix could have been made of wood, stone or metal and pigmented — or even heated — only in the areas of contact, producing the observed pattern.' Accusations that the Turin Shroud is a fake have been around since its first recorded mentions in the 14th century. More recently, carbon dating analysis has placed its likely time of creation somewhere between 1260 and 1390AD. Mr Moraes thinks it is likely the shroud was made in a funerary context, and is a 'masterpiece of Christian art'. He wrote that it is 'plausible to consider that artists or sculptors with sufficient knowledge could have created such a piece, either through painting or low relief'. However, it's unlikely that Mr Moraes' work will being an end to speculation over the shroud's veracity. University of Padua professor Giulio Fanti has claimed in a study that the blood stain patterns offer evidence that the shroud is the real deal, according to the NY Post. This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission Originally published as Shroud of Turin burial cloth was never laid on Jesus' body but a sculpture, scientists claim
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Shroud of Turin burial cloth was never laid on Jesus' body but a sculpture, scientists claim
The mystery surrounding one of the world's most famous religious relics may finally be solved, according to new research. The Shroud of Turin, a length of linen believed to have been used to wrap Jesus after his death on the cross, draws thousands of faithful visitors every year. The cloth bears the image of a man after Crucifixion, leading believers to claim it was the very shroud that bore Christ's body. Yet it has been the centre of controversy and debate for centuries. Sceptics suggest the shroud is nothing more than a hoax dating to the Middle Ages. But a new study published in the journal Archaeometry seems to have put the debate to rest. Brazilian 3D digital designer Cicero Moraes used digital modelling software to reach his final conclusion. He believes the shroud was never wrapped around Jesus' body, based on a study using 3D imaging tech. 'The Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,' he wrote. Mr Moraes argues that the imprints on the linen could only have been made by a sculpture, not an actual person's body. For his research, Mr Moraes compared two different digital 3D bodies. One was that of a human body, and the other was a low-relief sculpture. He then used 3D simulation tools to digitally drape a shroud over each of them. Mr Moraes compared both to pictures of the Shroud of Turin. He found that the low-relief sculpture was a worthy match for the centuries-old relic, while the one based on a human was more distorted. This is down to a phenomenon called the Agammemnon Mask Effect — named after a wide death mask found in Greece. The effect sets out that if someone pressed their face against a paper towel, it would be wide and distorted — and would not accurately reflect the individual's features. 'The image on the Shroud of Turin is more consistent with a low-relief matrix,' Mr Moraes told Live Science. 'Such a matrix could have been made of wood, stone or metal and pigmented — or even heated — only in the areas of contact, producing the observed pattern.' Accusations that the Turin Shroud is a fake have been around since its first recorded mentions in the 14th century. More recently, carbon dating analysis has placed its likely time of creation somewhere between 1260 and 1390AD. Mr Moraes thinks it is likely the shroud was made in a funerary context, and is a 'masterpiece of Christian art'. He wrote that it is 'plausible to consider that artists or sculptors with sufficient knowledge could have created such a piece, either through painting or low relief'. However, it's unlikely that Mr Moraes' work will being an end to speculation over the shroud's veracity. University of Padua professor Giulio Fanti has claimed in a study that the blood stain patterns offer evidence that the shroud is the real deal, according to the NY Post.
