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To enter fill in the form below.
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
A 5,000-year-old tooth may solve the mystery of Stonehenge
By One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Stonehenge is how the heavy boulders got there. While some of the rocks came from Wales, one has even been traced to a quarry in Scotland. Recent research confirmed they were moved by humans – not glaciers – but it's not been clear how the bluestones, weighing over three tonnes, were transported hundreds of miles. Now, a new discovery could expose one of the monument's best–kept secrets. A century ago, in 1924, archaeologists discovered a cow's jawbone that had been carefully placed beside Stonehenge's south entrance and dated it to the monument's very beginning, around 5,000 years ago. Experts have now used isotope analysis to finally bring the artefact to life – revealing the cow likely originated in Wales before moving to Stonehenge. The remarkable discovery adds further weight to theories that cows were used in the transportation of the enormous rocks across the country. 'A slice of one cow tooth has told us an extraordinary tale and, as new scientific tools emerge, we hope there is still more to learn about her long journey,' Professor Jane Evans, from the British Geological Survey, said. The team, which also included scientists from Cardiff University and University College London, sliced the cow's third molar tooth, which records chemical signals from the animal's second year of life, into nine horizontal sections. They were than able to measure carbon, oxygen, strontium and lead isotopes, which each offer clues about the cow's diet, environment and movement. Analysis of the composition suggests the cow originated from an area with Palaeozoic rocks, such as the bluestones found in Wales, before moving to Stonehenge. This is the first time that scientists have seen evidence linking cattle remains from the site in Salisbury to Pembrokeshire in Wales, where some of the stones originated. 'This study has revealed unprecedented details of six months in a cow's life, providing the first evidence of cattle movement from Wales as well as documenting dietary changes and life events that happened around 5,000 years ago,' Professor Evans added. The researchers also concluded that unusual lead signals in the tooth could be explained by the stresses of pregnancy, indicating the cow was female. Richard Madgwick, professor of archaeological science at Cardiff University, said: 'This research has provided key new insights into the biography of this enigmatic cow whose remains were deposited in such an important location at a Stonehenge entrance. 'It provides unparalleled new detail on the distant origins of the animal and the arduous journey it was brought on. So often grand narratives dominate research on major archaeological sites, but this detailed biographical approach on a single animal provides a brand–new facet to the story of Stonehenge.' The new findings, which the researchers say 'help fill in just a few more gaps about this legendary landmark', were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Michael Parker Pearson, professor of British later prehistory at University College London, said: 'This is yet more fascinating evidence for Stonehenge's link with south–west Wales, where its bluestones come from. It raises the tantalising possibility that cattle helped to haul the stones.' Last month, researchers published a paper that concluded there is 'no evidence' to support the idea that some of Stonehenge's boulders had been deposited there by a glacier. Transporting these bluestones, which can weigh over three tonnes, from Wales to Stonehenge would have been an incredible feat of human logistics. 'Part of the fascination of Stonehenge is that many of its megaliths, in contrast to the large, relatively local sarsens, can be proven to have been sourced from Wales, over 200km to the west,' the researchers wrote. 'Most archaeologists accept that Neolithic people achieved this remarkable feat, transporting blocks weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.' While the large sarsen stones were only transported from West Woods in Wiltshire – roughly 32km (20 miles) away – they weighed over 20 tonnes each and stood up to seven metres tall. The famous 'Altar Stone' was even transported from Scotland around 750km (466 miles) away, a study published last year revealed. 'There is no evidence for how they moved these stones,' the researchers wrote, 'but recent indigenous peoples have been transporting stones weighing many tonnes great distances with ropes, wooden sledges and trackways – technologies which would have been available in the Neolithic.' While builders 5,000 years ago normally used whatever materials were at hand for stone circles, Stonehenge is 'exceptional' for being constructed entirely of stones brought from long distances, the team said. Researchers have previously suggested that the site may have had a political as well as a religious purpose, 'a moment of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal links with their ancestors and the cosmos'. Despite recent findings, the mystery of exactly why Stonehenge is built – and how – is still ongoing.
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK health firms ‘misleading' parents with claims over milk teeth ‘treatments'
Companies are making thousands of pounds by misleading parents with claims that collecting stem cells from their children's teeth can be a treatment for diabetes and autism, an investigation has found. Tooth stem cell banking, also known as dental pulp cell banking, involves parents collecting and sending lost milk teeth to a laboratory where stem cells are harvested from the dental pulp. Firms that advertise tooth banking services claim these stem cells can be used in treatments for conditions such as diabetes and autism. The investigation, by Emma Wilkinson and published in the BMJ, found that three companies in the UK offer tooth stem cell banking – BioEden, Future Health Biobank and Stem Protect. The service costs about £1,900, with a £95 annual storage fee. On its website, Future Health Biobank says it has released 26 tooth stem cell samples for treatment, including for autism, type 1 diabetes and knee cartilage regeneration. Stem Protect states on its website that tooth stem cells can be used for cleft palate repair and HIV/Aids among other conditions, and says 'medical trials into autism and cerebral palsy involve the pulp found inside teeth and offer hope for hundreds of conditions'. BioEden's website claimed stem cell therapy had been described as the 'next frontier' for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and that the company had 'already witnessed the remarkable evidence of these ongoing developments' among its customers. However, experts have expressed doubts about the medical value of tooth stem cell banking. 'There is a lack of evidence and a paucity of research using dental pulp stem cells to treat patients,' said Jill Shepherd, a senior lecturer in stem cell biology at the University of Kent. 'There's no evidence to suggest stem cells stored from a child's milk tooth would ever be needed to treat that child.' Sufyan Hussain, an investigator on the UK arm of a global clinical trial evaluating stem cell therapy, said there was not a definitive answer regarding the 'optimal source of stem cells for future diabetes therapies'. 'This highlights how emotive this matter can be, as parents naturally want the best possible outcomes for their children,' Hussain said. 'While we remain hopeful about future treatments, there is also a risk that companies might exploit these hopes to generate additional revenue.' Tim Nicholls, assistant director of policy, research and strategy at the National Autistic Society in the UK, said it was 'outrageous' that tooth stem cell procedures are being advertised to parents with the claim of 'treating' autism. He added: 'Autism is not a disease or illness; it cannot be treated and there is no cure. It is dangerous and morally bankrupt to target potentially vulnerable people with expensive procedures that could, in fact, cause harm.' In response to the BMJ article, Future Health Biobank said it was looking at how information on its site is presented in order to ensure 'readers can clearly distinguish between client experiences and formally published clinical outcomes'. A spokesperson for Stem Protect said: 'We have made no unfounded claims, and our website has been reviewed and approved by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). We remain committed to ensuring stem cell banking is presented as a valuable resource, backed by evidence and transparency.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Experts discover the hidden health reason why girls may score lower at GCSE than boys
Heavy periods and period pain could see girls score lower at GCSE, concerning new research has suggested. British scientists, who surveyed almost 3,000 girls, found they had a 27 per cent lower chance of achieving five GCSE passes on average because of heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Those who suffered the debilitating symptoms also missed an additional 1.7 days of school every year. Girls were also asked about severe cramps and pain during periods, with researchers discovering those experiencing such symptoms had a 16 per cent lower chance of achieving five GCSE passes. Experts, who labelled the findings important, said they should be taken 'very seriously' but also warned 'not to label women as being less capable because of their periods'. It comes as millions of teenagers across the UK this morning received their GCSE results, with one in five entries achieving at least a grade 7 or A. The GCSE pass rate, however, for English and maths also hit a record low, amid fears that some pupils are being left behind. Professor Gemma Sharp, an epidemiology expert at the University of Exeter, who supervised the fresh research, said: 'We know from previous research that heavy and painful periods can impact attendance and concentration. 'This study tells us that there's also a link with attainment. 'It's clear that people are capable of functioning at a high level regardless of their cycle, but we need a society that's better set up to support them, particularly if they are experiencing heavy bleeding and pain.' In the study, researchers from the University of Bristol and University of Exeter analysed data from 2,700 girls aged 13 to 16 who were taking their GCSEs between 2006 and 2009. The girls were interviewed four times over a three-year period about their periods, and their comments were analysed alongside absence and educational attainment data. The scientists found more than a third (36 per cent) of girls reported heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. They had 27 per cent lower odds of achieving five standard GCSE passes, often required to enable a student to go on to the next stage of their education. Meanwhile, over half (56 per cent) of the girls interviewed, said they experienced severe cramps and pain during periods. They took an additional 1.2 days off school on average, the researchers also found. Writing in the journal npj Science of Learning, they added that girls who experienced heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain were more likely to be persistently absent from school. Concerns about leaking, feelings of shame and embarrassment and bullying, may also be contributing to difficulties, they said. Meanwhile, challenges managing symptoms while in school, and difficulties accessing toilets during lessons, could be other contributing factors. Gemma Sawyer, a PhD student at the University of Bristol, who conducted the research, said: 'Our large-scale study provides the most convincing evidence to date that menstrual symptoms are associated with lower attendance and attainment. 'More education and support may help improve the menstrual health of adolescents and reduce inequalities in education outcomes.'
