Latest news with #Britannica
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Is Pennsylvania home to an eternal flame?
(WHTM)– Eternal flames are flames that continuously burn for an extended period of time, often indefinitely. This natural phenomenon doesn't occur often, but there happens to be one right here in Pennsylvania. According to National Geographic, eternal flames can occur when underground natural flammable gas travels to the surface through fractures in holes and rocks. The constant fueling of gas can often cause these flames to burn forever. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now National Geographic says this rare phenomenon can be found worldwide, with one of the most notable locations being the 'Gate to Hell' in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. The United States is home to multiple infamous eternal flames, including Eternal Flame Falls in New York. Pennsylvania's eternal flame is bigger than a flickering fire under a waterfall. It actually caused the majority of an entire town to evacuate more than 40 years ago. Most Pennsylvanians are familiar with the now ghost town of Centralia, which was once home to more than 1,000 people. According to Britannica, Pennsylvania is home to some of the largest coal deposits in the world, which led miners to tunnel beneath the earth and harvest coal. Many of these mines were abandoned by the mid-1900s, one of which was under the town of Centralia. While Pennsylvania has multiple active mining fires, Centralia stands out among the rest due to its longevity and historical relevance. It is unclear how the Centralia fire started in 1962, but 53 years later, it's still burning. Britannica says coal burns when the carbon inside it combines with oxygen, and the tunnels below Centralia provided perfect conditions for a lasting fire. The fire in Centralia didn't seem like a problem at first, but toxic fumes emanating from the ground soon began to push residents from their homes. Additionally, the fire weakened the ground, leaving the area prone to sinkholes, Britannica said. According to Pennsylvania condemned Centrailia in 1992, forcing the town's remaining residents out. Thrill seekers and urban explorers still explore the town today, but it remains a dangerous area. Individuals interested in some of the world's 'eternal flames' can learn more here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Sprawling Roman-era mosaic — for goddess of luck — found under home, photos show
A sprawling, centuries-old mosaic was recently unearthed in Syria, shedding light onto life under Roman rule. The ancient artwork was found beneath a home in Maryamin, a village in western Syria — located about 40 miles from the Mediterranean Sea — according to a news release from the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums. It was uncovered by sheer happenstance. While digging a well inside the home, workers stumbled upon the intact mosaic about eight feet underground. Measuring about 14 feet long and six feet wide, the piece is composed of colorful stone cubes. Photos show archaeologists carefully excavating the rectangular work, with parts of it covered under layers of dirt. The mosaic depicts Tyche, the Greek goddess of luck, who was later co-opted and renamed Fortuna by the Romans. The deity was likely associated with prosperity and also fertility, according to Britannica. Next to the goddess — framed in an octagon wreathed in braids — is a brief Greek inscription, which translates to 'good luck.' She is surrounded by eight squares filled with geometric shapes. The mosaic dates to the Roman Era, which began in 64 A.D. — about 2,000 years ago — when the Roman general Pompey conquered the region, according to Dumbarton Oaks, a Harvard University research center. The province, which spans parts of modern-day Syria, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Palestine, became among the most important and wealthy in the entire empire. Under Roman rule, Syria was a bustling commercial hub 'overflowing with grain, wine and oil,' with its grapes rated 'second to none in sweetness,' according to an American Philological Association research article. But, several centuries later, the province was taken over by the Byzantine Empire. Numerous other mosaics have been unearthed in the Maryamin area, including one depicting female musicians, currently on display at a regional museum, the release said. And in 2018, a massive, 65-foot Roman Era mosaic was discovered in Rastan, about 125 miles north of Damascus, McClatchy News previously reported. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from Syria's Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.
Ammon
4 days ago
- General
- Ammon
Roman Emperor Constantine I baptized
Ammon News - On this day in 337, Constantine the Great, became on his deathbed the first Roman emperor to be baptized in the Christian church. Britannica
India.com
4 days ago
- India.com
7 Wonders Of The World
Zee Media Bureau May 22, 2025 This mausoleum complex in Agra, India, is regarded as one of the world's most iconic monuments and is perhaps the finest example of Mughal architecture. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahān (reigned 1628–58) to honor his wife Mumtāz Maḥal ('Chosen One of the Palace'), who died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child.(Source:Britannica) The Colosseum in Rome was built in the first century by order of the Emperor Vespasian. A feat of engineering, the amphitheater measures 620 by 513 feet (189 by 156 meters) and features a complex system of vaults. It was capable of holding 50,000 spectators, who watched a variety of events. a colossal statue of Jesus, stands atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Its origins date to just after World War I, when some Brazilians feared a 'tide of godlessness.' They proposed a statue, which was ultimately designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, Carlos Oswald, and Paul Landowski. Construction began in 1926 and was completed five years later. This Incan site near Cuzco, Peru, was 'discovered' in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, who believed it was Vilcabamba, a secret Incan stronghold used during the 16th-century rebellion against Spanish rule. Although that claim was later disproved, the purpose of Machu Picchu has confounded scholars. The ancient city of Petra, Jordan, is located in a remote valley, nestled among sandstone mountains and cliffs. It was purported to be one of the places where Moses struck a rock and water gushed forth. Later the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe, made it their capital, and during this time it flourished, becoming an important trade center, especially for spices. a Mayan city on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, which flourished in the 9th and 10th centuries CE. Under the Mayan tribe Itzá—who were strongly influenced by the Toltecs—a number of important monuments and temples were built. Great might be an understatement. One of the world's largest building-construction projects, the Great Wall of China is widely thought to be about 5,500 miles (8,850 km) long; a disputed Chinese study, however, claims the length is 13,170 miles (21,200 km). Work began in the 7th century BCE and continued for two millennia. Read Next Story
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First Post
4 days ago
- Science
- First Post
British soldiers use xenon gas to scale Everest. What is it controversial?
Four former British special forces soldiers, who scaled Everest in record time, have found themselves in the middle of controversy due to their use of xenon gas. The men used the chemical to speed up the acclimatisation process – allowing them to climb the mountain in under five days. But not everyone is impressed read more Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, and other peaks of the Himalayan range are seen through an aircraft window during a mountain flight from Kathmandu, Nepal, January 15, 2020. File Image/Reuters Though thousands of people have scaled Mount Everest over the years, it remains an impressive feat. However, four British soldiers who did so recently found themselves in the middle of controversy. This is because they used xenon gas during their ascent. But what is xenon gas? What happened exactly? Why is the incident under the scanner of authorities? Let's take a closer look: What is it? First, let's take a brief look at xenon. As per Britannica, xenon is a chemical element. It belongs to the so-called 'noble gases' of the periodic table. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Noble gases are renowned for their lack of chemical reactivity. It was discovered in 1898 by British chemists Sir William Ramsay and Morris W Travers. They did this by distilling the gas krypton – which they had discovered just weeks earlier. Xenon gas discharge tube. Image courtesy: Alchemist-hp (talk) ( Wikimedia Commons Over 4.5 times heavier than air, xenon is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It is found on the Earth only in trace amounts. The world itself derives from the Greek 'xenos' – meaning 'strange' or 'foreign'. The gas is used in a wide variety of fields. As per CK this includes lamps in projectors and cinemas, flashlights, car headlights, CT scans, anesthesia, satellites, deep space missions, nuclear energy and metallurgy. What's the controversy? The trip was organised by Furtenbach Adventures – a company based in Austria. As pe_r BBC,_ the four British soldiers – Garth Miller, Alistair Carns, Anthony Stazicker, and Kev Godlington – used xenon gas to aid in their climb Mount Everest. The team, which also comprised a UK government minister, did this in five days – a record time. Climbers usually remain on Everest for a few weeks or even months before they try to ascend to the summit. This process, called acclimatisation, gives the climbers' bodies time to adjust to the thinner atmosphere and the lack of oxygen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Those who do not acclimatise properly can face altitude sickness or hypoxia –which can result in serious injuries or even death. However, the British soldiers employed xenon to speed up the acclimatisation process. They did this in Germany two weeks before the climb. As per the Times UK, xenon is thought to aid in the production of red blood cells – though some dispute the science around this. 'It helps to protect the body from altitude sickness,' expedition organiser Lukas Furtenbach explained to the BBC. Climbers usually remain on Everest for a few weeks or even months before they try to ascend to the summit. As per India Today, Furtenbach has climbed Mount Everest four times. The team also slept in special oxygen tents before making the trip. 'We've all accumulated probably in excess of 500 hours in the hypoxic tent now, and that's usually sleeping in the evening and then doing exercise with a mask on as well,' Carns told Washington Post. The team, alongside by five Sherpas and a cameraman, reached the 29,032-foot summit early on Wednesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'They started on the afternoon of 16th May and summited on the morning of the 21st, taking four days and approximately 18 hours,' Furtenbach added. As per India Today, the men also relied on supplemental oxygen – as other climbers do. They then quickly began their descent. The outlet quoted Furtenbach as saying this was good for the environment. 'Shorter expedition also means less garbage, less resources, less human waste in this sensitive environment,' Furtenbach said. Why is the incident under the scanner of authorities? But while the team may be happy to tout their accomplishment, not everyone is impressed. American climber and guide Adrian Ballinger of the Alpenglow Expeditions company called the use of xenon a 'stunt … it's never seemed like the type of experience we want to provide.' 'Everyone should climb the mountain in a form they are proud of. If these climbers are proud of this style, then that's their choice,' Ballinger said. 'It is a banned substance by all professional sporting organisations, and even though [mountain climbing] is not managed by a sporting organisation, it's always been a goal of climbers to follow best practices of not doping. All that combined makes it feel, I guess, pretty icky. People should be able to climb how they want to, but it isn't mountain climbing; it's mountain tourism,' he told Washington Post. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts also cast doubt on whether xenon actually does anything for mountain climbers. Peter Hackett, a mountaineering expert and physician, wondered, 'Does xenon increase red blood cells? Well, that's never really been shown conclusively.' 'It does increase EPO transiently, but in one study that was done in athletes, it did not increase red blood cells and it did not increase their exercise performance. But that's one study done under certain circumstances, and it needs to be studied again under varying circumstances.' Andrew Peacock, an honorary professor specialising in altitude medicine at the University of Glasgow, told the BBC an 'increase in erythropoietin does nothing on its own. The question in this case is, does it really stimulate production of red blood cells in such a short period?' The outlet quoted the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation as saying, 'According to current literature, there is no evidence that breathing in xenon improves performance in the mountains, and inappropriate use can be dangerous. Although a single inhalation of xenon can measurably increase the release of erythropoietin, this increase is not sustained over four weeks' use, nor is it associated with any changes in red blood cells. According to the literature, the effects on performance are unclear and probably non-existent.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities are also worried about the impact this could have on revenue if trips are shortened. 'If that happens then it will certainly have a direct, negative impact on the tourism industry as the length of time mountaineers stay will come down significantly,' Damber Parajuli, president of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal, told BBC. 'Also, acclimatising on the mountains is the basic rule of mountaineering. If that is not done then authorities should not be giving them certificates certifying that they climbed the mountain.' Nepal has issued permits to 468 people to Everest during the current March-May climbing season and more than 200 have already topped the summit so far. It remains to be seen what steps the authorities will take, if any. With inputs from agencies
