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Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Sticky goo in 2,500-year-old bronze jars finally identified, settling 70-year debate
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Globs of sticky goo discovered in the bottom of 2,500-year-old bronze jars from southern Italy have been chemically identified, settling a 70-year archaeological debate. It's honey — the sweet leftovers of an offering to an ancient god. A team of chemists and archaeologists used cutting-edge analysis techniques to test the paste-like residue. They concluded that the jars, which were found in the sixth-century-B.C. city of Paestum, originally contained honeycomb. "What I find interesting is that the ancient Greeks did think that honey was a superfood," study lead author Luciana da Costa Carvalho, a chemist at the University of Oxford, said in a video. The researchers published their findings Wednesday (July 30) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Honey and honeybees were important in ancient Greek and Roman medicine, rituals, cosmetics and food. So when archaeologists found eight bronze jars in an underground shrine in 1954, they assumed that the jars contained honey as a symbol of immortality. Despite at least four attempts over seven decades to confirm the presence of the sticky, sweet substance, no evidence of sugars was ever found. Related: Does honey ever go bad? But Carvalho and colleagues decided to take advantage of recent advances in chemical analysis techniques and to reopen the question of the gooey substance's origin. Using mass spectrometry, a technique that can identify different molecules and compounds, Carvalho and colleagues identified intact hexose sugars in the ancient jar residue for the first time. Fresh honey is about 79% hexose sugars, the researchers wrote in the study, with fructose being the most abundant. An analysis of the proteins in the ancient sample revealed the presence of royal jelly, a milky secretion made by worker bees. The researchers also recovered peptides — short amino acid chains that are smaller versions of proteins — unique to one species of honeybee: the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). Adding up these analyses, the researchers wrote that the study presents the first direct molecular evidence supporting the presence of honey, likely offered as honeycombs. "The amount of sugar in the ancient residue is very low compared to modern honey," Carvalho told Live Science in an email. "I think the residue tastes like washed honeycomb but slightly more acidic," Carvalho said, although she did not actually try it. The researchers also identified copper ions in the honey mixture. Because these ions are biocidal, meaning they can kill microorganisms, "their presence would have contributed to the preservations of sugars on the surface of the residue," Carvalho said, potentially explaining how the honey lasted thousands of years. The analysis of the goop can help archaeologists better understand ancient rituals and shrines. The jars were found in an underground shrine, also called a heroon, at Paestum. The heroon also included a large, wooden table with wool-wrapped iron rods placed on top. RELATED STORIES —Panathenaic prize amphora: A pot brimming with olive oil awarded at the ancient Greek Olympics —Depiction of Trojan War hero Ajax found in 1,800-year-old submerged building in Greece —Ancient Greeks may have built 'disability ramps' on some temples The offering may have been made to Is of Helice, the mythical founder of the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, located in what today is the arch of Italy's boot. When Sybaris was destroyed in the sixth century B.C., its inhabitants fled and founded a city called Poseidonia. But when the Romans took it over in the third century B.C., they renamed the city Paestum. The new study shows that "there is merit in reanalyzing museum collections because analytical techniques continue to develop," Carvalho said in the video. Solve the daily Crossword
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
BITS Pilani Hyderabad scientists develop smart wound dressing to kill infection-causing bacteria
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics. The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday. The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing. The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis. The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor. When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. 'Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,' said the scientists. The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips. Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
BITS Pilani Hyd scientists develop smart wound dressing to kill infection-causing bacteria
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics. The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday. The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing. The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis. The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor. When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. 'Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,' said the scientists. The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips. Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.
DW
23-07-2025
- Health
- DW
Tattoo tech may help detect drink spiking – DW – 07/23/2025
A new material science development could provide an effective way to detect party drugs used to commit sexual assault. A temporary "tattoo" could provide partygoers looking for a safe night out with a secret indicator to detect drugs often used to spike drinks in public bars and clubs. Rohypnol — also called a "roofie" — and GHB, sometimes called "liquid ecstasy" or "fantasy," are club drugs used, often by young people, in bars and nightclubs, raves and other nightlife settings. It is an illegal drug in many places, including the United States, UK and Australia. While certain doses of these club drugs can produce a feeling of relaxation or euphoria, excessive doses can lead to symptoms of drowsiness, slurring of speech, loss of motor function, confusion and memory impairment. Overdose and toxicity are also possible. Drug regulators have also identified both drugs as the toxins of choice for offenders seeking to spike drinks, render their victims unconscious or close to that, and then sexually assault them. Because these are short-lived, tasteless and colorless drugs, it's especially difficult for those wanting to have a safe night out to know if their drink has been spiked. However, a new report published in the American Chemical Society in its journal has described an innovation from a South Korean research group that could make drug identification practically seamless. There are already products that allow people to identify whether a drink has been spiked. These appear as strips that can be dipped into a drink, with a color change indicating the presence of an unwanted chemical. However, such a technique can take minutes and could leave a person vulnerable to other social dangers with such an obvious testing method. The new rapid test developed by materials scientists funded by the South Korean government could offer an alternative. Looking like a tattoo, but in actuality a removable sticker, the new product could provide an opportunity to quickly and subtly identify the presence of GHB. Embedded in the silicone sticker film is a solution containing an iodide indicator called BHEI. When exposed to a solution containing GHB, the indicator changes from yellow to red. According to reported results, stickers changed color almost instantaneously when exposed to drops of GHB in whisky, vodka, beer or coffee. For those wearing the sticker, they would only need to expose their marker to a single droplet of their drink for the change to take place. It was sensitive enough to detect 0.01 milligrams of GHB per milliliter. "This innovation represents a proactive and accessible solution for preventing drug-facilitated sexual assault, enhancing personal safety, and fostering a sense of control and awareness in high-risk environments," the authors wrote in the study. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It's not the first time that sensors have been developed to detect date rape drugs. More than a decade ago, a group from the National University of Singapore developed a fluorescent sensor platform that could be formed into drink stirrers and straws to indicate drinks spiked with GHB. A US startup had previously invented a quick test platform that tested for several drugs using a testing disc. But rapid testing products will likely need to be developed further before going to market. Kabrena Rodda, a forensic toxicologist at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory in the US, said some spot tests can be unreliable. "Unfortunately, spot detection methods such as these can often have high false positive rates — that is, telling you it detected the drug when it actually is not there," Rodda, who was not involved in the new study, told DW in an email. "This can lead people to avoid drinks that may be safe, which may in turn lead to an inaccurate belief that GHB is being spiked in people's drinks." However, Rodda said the sticker test developed by the Korean researchers was "praiseworthy and important." A venture company has now been established to try and bring the product to market in South Korea. But customization and adaptability to other target drugs is currently limited. "Since a custom mold must be made and filled with agarose gel containing the GHB chemical receptor, there may be limitations in freely designing shapes like real tattoos," Gyeong-Ji Kim, the study's lead author based at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, told DW. "Customization is possible to some extent, but it is technically constrained. "We have not yet developed chemical receptors for detecting other drugs. However, if receptors for substances such as opioids or synthetic cannabinoids are developed in the future, we believe they can be integrated into our tattoo sticker platform."
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Researchers develop temporary tattoos that can test for spiked drinks
An experimental kind of temporary tattoo can near-instantly test beverages for the presence of unwanted drugs, a new study has found. Published Wednesday by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the study from Korean researchers developed a multicoloured temporary tattoo that reacts to the presence of GHB, a compound described as 'commonly associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault.' 'These drugs are colorless and tasteless, inducing a stupor in the victim that's similar to severe alcohol intoxication,' reads a release from the ACS. 'Consuming a drink spiked with drugs including Rohypnol (commonly known as roofies) or GHB when drinking in a social setting is an ever-present danger — even among friends and acquaintances.' According to the study, the chemicals in the tattoo can detect concentrations of GHB in beer, liquor or coffee, changing colour from yellow to red in order to alert the wearer that their beverage may have been spiked. 'In practice, a wearer could dip a finger into a beverage, touch the drop to the sticker and see the result almost immediately,' the release reads. In recent years, scientists have developed a variety of products to check beverages for drugs, from chemical test strips to more inconspicuous options like nail polish, coasters and stir sticks. The newly developed tattoos not only allow the users to test their drinks discreetly, but also act far faster than some older tests, delivering results in less than a second, rather than minutes. Researchers also say the results last for up to a month, which can help preserve evidence of suspected tampering. The tattoos are inexpensive to manufacture and 'could be commercially available soon,' according to the release. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
