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DW
3 days ago
- Science
- DW
Dead Sea Scrolls older than previously thought says AI – DW – 06/04/2025
An AI trained on radiocarbon dating suggests some Dead Sea Scrolls might be older than previously thought. The findings could reshape our understanding of Judaism and early Christianity. An AI program trained to study the handwriting styles of ancient manuscripts suggests many of the Dead Sea Scrolls might be older than previously thought, as reported in a study published in the journal Plos One on Wednesday . The study is the latest entry in a new era of antiquity studies that has researchers use AI to reveal the secrets written on frayed and crumbling scrolls. The new method combines AI, radiocarbon dating, and handwriting analysis to more accurately estimate an ancient text's age. The now proposed redating could reshape our understanding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and of Judaism and early Christianity, the authors of the study say. "It is very exciting to set a significant step into solving the dating problem of the Dead Sea Scrolls and also creating a new tool that could be used to study other partially dated manuscript collections from history," said study author Mladen Popovic from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Radiocarbon dating and AI analysis of handwriting The Dead Sea Scrolls, the first of which were discovered in a cave in Israel in 1947, are the most momentous manuscript discovery of the past hundred years. There are around 1,000 manuscripts in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among them are some of the oldest known copies of texts from the Hebrew Bible. Studies of these manuscripts have profoundly changed understanding of the origins of Christianity and the formation of post-biblical Judaism Dating these manuscripts with paleography — the study of ancient handwriting — reveals them to have been written over several hundred years between 250 B.C.E. and 100 C.E. However, scholars have struggled to analyze ancient texts, particularly with distinguishing one writer's style from another, meaning dating isn't very reliable. The researchers aimed to improve analytical methods by using AI to study handwriting and cross-reference this data with radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon dating estimates the age of materials by measuring carbon-14 isotopes that slowly disappear over time. "The advantage of the [AI] model is that it provides quantified objectivity to palaeography, reducing the method's subjectivity," the authors write. An AI model was first trained on 24 manuscripts with reliable radiocarbon dating. The authors then used this AI model to analyze the handwriting style of 135 scrolls with unknown dates spanning three centuries from around 200 B.C.E. to 100 C.E. This created a better way of dating written manuscripts with 79% accuracy, according to the analysis. "This novel approach allowed [the researchers] to combine historical expertise with technical precision," said Thea Sommerschield and Yannis Assael, who previously developed AI tools for the study of ancient texts at the University of Oxford, UK, in a joint email to DW. Sommerschield and Assael were not involved in the study. Tomorrow Today — The Science Show To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video New Dead Sea Scroll chronology The authors of the study believe their analysis could lead to a new chronology of the scrolls. If verified, it would change understanding of the history of ancient Judea and the people who wrote the texts. The AI analysis found the manuscripts are older than previous estimates overall, suggesting dates in the early second century B.C.E., and sometimes slightly earlier. Scholars often assume that the rise and expansion of the Hasmonaean kingdom from the mid-second century B.C.E. onward caused a rise in "literacy scribal intellectual culture." The authors say their findings suggest that scribes were copying multiple literary manuscripts before this period. Sommerschield and Assael say the new study shows AI could be used to provide more accurate dating of other ancient texts. "This new study shows that computational tools don't diminish the role of human expertise, they enhance it, opening new paths for discovery in even the most well-studied texts," they said in their email. Antiquity scholars believe they are on the brink of a new era of because of AI. Researchers have also, for example, been using AI to translate ancient texts that have been vexing ancient scholars for decades. Edited by: Matthew Ward Agius
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Insomnia Relief Without Medication? Use This Acupoint for Better Sleep
Insomnia is more than a source of frustration—it can gradually undermine our health. Chronic sleep issues are associated with a range of problems, including high blood pressure, weakened immunity, mood swings, and memory difficulties. As we age, sleep disruptions become more frequent. Many experts recommend exploring From Classical Texts to Clinical Relevance Shen Men was first recorded in 'Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing,' the oldest surviving text on acupuncture and moxibustion (a gentle heat therapy with dried mugwort) , written between 256 and 283 C.E. This point is known as a Yuan-Source point, meaning it's a key location where our inherited, original These points are especially important because they reflect the energetic health of their related organ systems. In the case of Shen Men, that organ is the heart—not just the physical organ—but also the emotional and mental functions associated with it in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Shen Men plays a central role in addressing emotional disturbances like anxiety and depression, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and, in extreme cases, nausea. Shen Men is also known to improve mental clarity. In today's world, it's most often used to treat insomnia that stems from stress, overthinking, and emotional turmoil—when your body is exhausted but your mind won't turn off. Modern Studies Confirm the Mind-Body Connection Modern research is finding what traditional medicine has known for centuries: Shen Men profoundly influences the mind and body. One clinical Another How to Locate and Activate Shen Men You'll find Shen Men on the inner side of your wrist. To locate it, hold your palm face-up and find the prominent tendons that help flex your hand. Then, trace downwards along your pinky finger towards the inner wrist crease. You'll feel a slight dip next to the bone of your hand. This point will feel sore, tender, or numb when you press it. How to Activate the Spirit Gate Shen Men responds well to simple, gentle techniques, best applied before bedtime: Pressure technique: Apply firm pressure for 3–5 seconds, release for 3 seconds, and repeat this cycle for three to five minutes on each wrist. Massage: Using your thumb or index finger, massage in small, slow circles for three to five minutes per side. Herbal Patch: For overnight stimulation, consider an herbal patch placed directly over the point. Advanced techniques such as acupuncture, cupping, or moxibustion can enhance the therapeutic effects. These should only be performed by a trained TCM practitioner. Precautions Avoid manually stimulating the Shen Men acupoint if you have any injuries in the wrist area. Instead, consider using heat therapy. You can gently warm the acupoint by using a hairdryer on a low setting for 10 to 15 minutes on each wrist. If you choose to use herbal patches, read the ingredient list carefully to avoid products with harsh synthetic ingredients, especially if you have sensitive skin. End Your Day With Intention Incorporating Shen Men stimulation into your nighttime routine can be an effective way to unwind. Just a few minutes of mindful touch can help calm your mind and prepare it for restful sleep. Whether you focus on the point itself or create a calming ritual around it, Shen Men serves as a gentle and effective pathway to achieving deeper, more peaceful rest. Related Stories 5/7/2025 5/6/2025 TCM expert Shihhsiang Hung reviewed this article for accuracy and clarity. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From ancient emperors to modern presidents, leaders have used libraries to cement their legacies
Here in Atlanta, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum has been part of my daily life for years. Parks and trails surrounding the center connect my neighborhood to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park downtown and everything in between. At the end of December 2024, thousands of people walked to the library to pay their respects to the former president as he lay in repose. The cold, snow and darkness of the evening were a stark contrast to the warmth of the volunteers who welcomed us in. Our visit spiraled through galleries exhibiting records of Carter's life, achievements and lifelong work promoting democracy around the world. U.S. presidents have been building libraries for more than 100 years, starting with Rutherford B. Hayes. But the urge to shape one's legacy by building a library runs much deeper. As a scholar of libraries in the Greek and Roman world, I was struck by the similarities between presidential and ancient libraries – some of which were explicitly designed to honor deceased sponsors and played a significant role in their cities. The Ulpian Library, a great library in the center of Rome, was founded by Emperor Trajan, who ruled around the turn of the second century C.E. Referenced often by ancient authors, it could have been the first such memorial library. Today, someone visiting Rome can visit Trajan's Column, a roughly 100-foot monument to his military and engineering achievements after conquering Dacia, part of present-day Romania. A frieze spirals from bottom to top of the column, depicting his exploits. The monument now stands on its own. Originally, however, it was nestled in a courtyard between two halls of the Ulpian Library complex. Most of what scholars know about the library's architecture comes from remains of the west hall, an elongated room almost 80 feet long, whose walls were lined with rectangular niches and framed by a colonnade. The niches were lined with marble and appear to have had doors; this is where the books would have been placed. Writers from the first few centuries C.E. describe the library having archival documents about the emperor and the empire, including books made of linen and books bound with ivory. Trajan dedicated the column in 113 C.E. but died four years later, before the library was complete. Hadrian, his adoptive son and successor, oversaw the shipment of Trajan's cremated remains back to Rome, where they were placed in Trajan's Column. Hadrian completed the surrounding library complex in 128 C.E. and dedicated it with two identical funerary inscriptions to his adopted parents, Trajan and Plotina. Scholars Roberto Egidi and Silvia Orlandi have argued that Trajan's remains could later have been transferred from the column into the library hall. Either way, I would argue that Trajan's decision to have his remains included in the library complex, instead of in an imperial mausoleum, established a model adopted by other officials at a smaller scale. In the eastern side of the Roman empire – what is now Turkey – at least two other library-mausoleum buildings have been identified. One is the library at Nysa on the Maeander, a Hellenistic city named for the nearby river. Under the floor of its entry porch is a sarcophagus with the remains of a man and a woman, possibly the dedicators, that dates to the second century C.E., the time of Hadrian's reign. Another is the Library of Celsus, the most recognizable ancient library today, found in the ancient city of Ephesus. Named after a regional Roman consul and proconsul during the reign of Trajan, the building was founded by Celsus' son, designed as both a place of learning and a mausoleum. The library's ornate, sculpted facade contained life-size female statues, making it an immediately recognizable landmark. Inscriptions identify the statues as the personifications of Celsus' character, elevating him into a role model: virtue, intelligence, knowledge and wisdom. Upon entering the room, the funerary character of the library became quite literal. The hall was designed like the Ulpian Library, but a door gave access to a crypt underneath. This held the marble sarcophagus with the remains of Celsus, the patron of the library. The sarcophagus itself was visible from the hall, if one stood in front of the central apse and looked down through two slits in the podium. An endowment covered the library's operational expenses in ancient times, as well as annual commemorations on Celsus' birthday, including the wreathing of the busts and statues and the purchasing of additional books. These two provincial libraries highlight how sponsors hoped to be associated with the virtues a library fosters. Books represent knowledge, and by dedicating a library, one asserted his possession of it. Providing access to learning was an instrument of power on its own. Beyond the handful of memorial libraries, many other ancient Roman public libraries were great cultural centers, including the Forum of Peace in Rome, dedicated by Emperor Vespasian; the Library of Hadrian in Athens; and the Gymnasium in Side, a city in present-day Turkey. The most magnificent libraries combined access to manuscripts and artworks with spaces for meetings and lectures. Several had great leisure areas, including landscaped sculptural gardens with elaborate water features and colonnaded walkways. Literary sources and material evidence testify to the treasures that were held there: busts of philosophers, poets and other accomplished literary figures; statues of gods, heroes and emperors; treasures confiscated as spoils of war and exhibited in Rome. Like the Ulpian Library itself, they continued the long tradition of Hellenistic public libraries, established by the most famous library of antiquity: the Library of Alexandria. Founded and lavishly endowed by the Hellenistic kings of Egypt, the Ptolemies, the building was meant to portray the king as a patron of intellectual activities and a powerful ruler, collecting knowledge from conquered civilizations. In ancient Greece and Rome, anybody who could read had access to public libraries. Rules of use varied: For example, literary sources imply that the Ulpian Library in Rome was a borrowing library, whereas an inscription from the Library of Pantainos in Athens explicitly forbid any book to be taken out. But these buildings were also meant to shape their sponsors' legacies, portraying them as benevolent and learned. Presidential libraries in the United States today follow the same principle: They become monuments to the former presidents, while giving back to their local communities. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Myrsini Mamoli, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: How Jimmy Carter integrated his evangelical Christian faith into his political work, despite mockery and misunderstanding Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect – how history's lessons apply to cities today How book-banning campaigns have changed the lives and education of librarians – they now need to learn how to plan for safety and legally protect themselves Myrsini Mamoli does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
