Archaeology · Observations · Science

The search for extraterrestrial life is currently built on two pillars: chemistry and radio signals

The search for extraterrestrial life is currently built on two pillars: chemistry and radio signals. Astrobiologists, astronomers and planetary scientists use spectroscopy to look in the atmospheres of distant planets for oxygen and methane, which may point to life in general, even if only bacteria. Radio astronomers listen for radio

Faith · Observations · Science · Society · Rome

A world assembly on artificial intelligence and nuclear war has been held in the Vatican

Presumably the padres are watching lifelike scenes of nuclear apocalypse and worldwide drought, caused by the data centres of the AI tech giants, through their VR goggles. The Papal Gardens of Castel Gandolfo welcomed 30 Nobel laureates, representatives of 30 countries, former heads of state, 20 leading AI specialists and

NB! · Observations · Nature · Humour

Should you feel blue, simply reflect that 95% of the world's chaga reserves lie in Russia

Aristocracy · Monarchies · Observations · Society

Wedding of Indian and European nobles in Bad Aussee and people of Indian origin in elites

Kunwar Dhruv Raj Singh of Dungri Marries Countess Maria Ghislaine von und zu Eltz in the Parish Church of Pauli Bekehrung. If you are wondering why you should be burdened with this pile-up of strange names, I shall say that, true, these persons are of no great importance, but

Art · Observations · Society

In Melbourne, a giant graffito of a bird has split the city into two camps

In Melbourne, a giant graffito of a bird has split the city into two camps. The artist who painted a cartoon bird on the pier of a bridge has been arrested. But thousands of people have come out in support of at least his graffito and have asked the authorities

NB! · Observations · Paris

Paris greenery this year 😞

Books · Observations · Society · Humour

But the most infamous trick of these voivodes and their subordinates was that, for the sake of money, they falsely accused the people, or encouraged frivolous suits against men, and then sought by threats to extort money from them absurdly: they ordered t

Thomas Salmon and Matthias van Goch relay the observation of John Perry, an English engineer in the service of Peter I, on how the Russian voivodes grew so very rich during their brief terms of office. "The Modern History, or the Present State of ... Russia", 1735. And, you

Aristocracy · Books · London · Museums · Observations · Society

Derbyshire libraries lend out free weekly cards for entry to a museum site

Chatsworth, one of Britain's best-known country houses and seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, the Cavendish family, since 1549, launches a scheme of free admission through libraries. The mechanics of the project are as follows: a library reader in Derbyshire borrows a "community card" just

Faith · London · Monarchies · Observations · Society

At the end of June Buckingham Palace published an annual financial report of little interest to the general public

At the end of June Buckingham Palace published an annual financial report of little interest to the general public. But here is what is interesting: in the description of the monarch's duties a new line has appeared, to the effect that the King "protects the space for

Art · Museums · Observations · People

Giovanni Bellini's Madonnas in Venice's Gallerie dell'Accademia and his artistic development

One of the strongest impressions of this year: the series of Madonnas by Giovanni Bellini in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. Bellini painted this subject more than eighty times in the course of his life, so there is no better material for watching his mastery develop. The Madonnas

Archaeology · Observations · Science · Palaeontology

Article by Eren, Meltzer and Speth casts doubt on Clovis mammoth hunting

Whoever has not yet tired of following my scholarly work may like to hear about two interesting recent articles on my subject. One, by Ben Potter, maintains that the Palaeoindians were megafauna specialists who followed the mammoths from Alaska to Patagonia. Nothing especially sensational here. But the second article, by

Faith · Books · Observations

Abraham's Words on Moses and the Prophets in a Parable from the Gospel of Luke

What if the answer to the question "why did Christ appear only to Mary Magdalene, the myrrh-bearing women, the apostles, the disciples and more than 500 brethren, and not to everyone at all, in order to prove His Resurrection" is already given in the para. and beside