LINKS - January 11th, 2023
Welcome to LINKS — my attempt to provide Rhapsody readers with five interesting stories that tell us something about what it means to be human. LINKS is published every Wednesday. Have a link you want to share? Drop it in the comments.
Mystery of why Roman buildings have survived so long has been unraveled, scientists say
By Katie Hunt, CNN
“They found that white chunks in the concrete, referred to as lime clasts, gave the concrete the ability to heal cracks that formed over time. The white chunks previously had been overlooked as evidence of sloppy mixing or poor-quality raw material.”
Londoner solves 20,000-year Ice Age drawings mystery
By BBC News
“He spent numerous hours on the internet and in the British Library consulting pictures of cave paintings and "amassed as much data as possible and began looking for repeating patterns".
In particular, he examined a 'Y' sign on some paintings, which he felt might be a symbol for "giving birth" because it showed one line growing out from another."
"Self-Help" Is Nonsense. Here's Why.
“Self-help is not mere motivational mumbo-jumbo. It (often) sleazily conceals a political point-of-view that reinforces the political establishment. Here's how.”
The Paleolithic Age Cooked Up Creative Chefs
By Ceren Kabukcu, Sapiens
“Imagine ancient people sharing a meal. You would be forgiven for picturing people tearing into raw ingredients or maybe roasting meat over a fire, as those are the stereotypes. But our new study showed both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens had complex diets involving several steps of preparation and took effort with seasoning and using plants with bitter and sharp flavors.”
Chasing golden hour, Charlotte Ellis captures Oaxaca’s tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe
Written by Liz Gorny. Photography by Charlotte Ellis, It’s Nice That
“Whether it’s a commercial, fashion project or a personal travel series, Charlotte’s portfolio has since been centred around this ‘obsession’ with light. In December 2021, the photographer booked a solo flight to Oaxaca, Mexico with two cameras and a light metre strapped to her neck. With the intention to photograph her surroundings, she would wait for ‘hours on certain streets where the light was perfect’, she tells us. ‘There is such a beauty of travelling alone, honing in on your craft and focusing so clearly on exactly what you’re photographing.’ The photos taken during this time period are for a series Charlotte shot across Mexico, which include a specific collection of images showing Oaxaca’s Virgin of Guadalupe celebration – a religious tribute which marks the appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico on 12 December, 1531.”