2023 year-ender: Historical mysteries scientists solved this year
What's the story
Studying and cracking mysteries has never been an easy feat.
However, thanks to science, technology, and the exceedingly evolving AI tools, scientists have been able to solve a plethora of mysteries this year that were once anomalies.
As 2023 draws to a close, let us take a look back at five interesting mysteries that scientists cracked wide open.
Mystery 1
Insights from the Otzi mummy
Otzi, also known as the Iceman, is a 5300-year-old mummy discovered in the Otztal Alps.
His appearance has been questioned by previous research based on DNA analysis. Otzi was bald and had dark skin and eyes, unlike the stereotypes of him.
His food, health, and lifestyle were revealed by scientific examinations, which further revealed evidence of intestinal parasites, rib fractures, and dental issues.
Mystery 2
Roman Concrete's obscure secrets
Opus caementicium or Roman concrete was a sturdy substance used in ancient Rome.
In a study released in January 2023, scientists claimed to have figured out the secret component that the Romans used to make their building materials so resilient and to construct intricate structures in difficult locations like docks, sewers, and earthquake zones.
It had a mix of lime, volcanic ash, and seawater.
Mystery 3
Decoding the Herculaneum Scrolls with AI
The Herculaneum Scrolls, which are 1100 burned scrolls from the Vesuvius eruption, were decoded after the University of Kentucky launched the Vesuvius challenge in March.
Computer science student Luke Farritor utilized artificial intelligence (AI) and tomography to unveil the first word, "porphyras," in ancient Greek, which means "purple."
The subsequent goal is to precisely decode the entire script.
Mystery 4
5000-year-old skeletal remains are of 'Ivory woman' not 'Ivory man'
The 2008 discovery of ancient skeletal remains in a Spanish tomb, accompanied by ivory tusks, ostrich eggshells, and a crystal dagger, initially suggested a high-status male.
However, tooth enamel analysis in July revealed the remains belonged to a female.
Traditional methods, like pelvis examination, can err due to bone fragility. Instead, the study focused on amelogenin in tooth enamel, revealing the individual's true sex.