Beshara: Discoveries that are reshaping history or shaping the future
Plus: The man who risked his life to save Middle Eastern seeds and the first babies of Eid Al Adha
Have you ever felt that we are hurtling at breakneck speed into the future? I’d say you undoubtedly would have in the past couple of years – amid all the advancements in artificial intelligence.
Barely a day goes by without an update on an AI discovery that could benefit humankind in new and wondrous ways.
Yet at the same time, we are still discovering how little we know about the past.
This week we learned that life on Earth may well have begun half a billion years earlier than previously thought and an incredible finding in the UAE could reshape understanding of the area's development.
Below you will find a Beshara of two halves – first, those scientific discoveries that have shed new light on history and second, a collection of stories heralding some of the many ways new developments will save or improve many lives in the future – from crops to IVF.
And while on the subject of babies – don’t miss this week’s snapshot of the first baby born on Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi. Just too cute.
Best wishes always,
Nicola
Reshaping history
Dr Hamed Gamaleldien, an assistant professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, along with co-researchers at institutes in Australia and China, has “pushed the line back” on life on Earth by 500 million years.
Their research, published in Nature Geoscience this month, analysed samples from some of the oldest rock material in the world.
“We found a new result,” Dr Gamaleldien told Daniel Bardsley this week. He explained that the discovery suggests fresh water may have been present on Earth earlier than previously thought and, therefore, life likely started earlier too. This also has implications for what we may learn about life on other planets. Read that here .
And now to a relatively modern period of ancient history. Archaeologists believe they may have located the lost city of Tu'am in UAE’s Umm Al Quwain. It is thought this was once the capital of a territory and a pearl fishing centre famed for the quality of its gems.
So renowned was Tu'am around the sixth century that it was written of in ancient Arabic texts. Read more on the findings that may reshape ideas about the modern-day UAE and help to provide insight into the history of its early people in John Dennehy’s report here .
And on why the site is likely to boost a richer experience of the UAE for tourists and residents alike, read our editorial .
QUOTED
'You cannot put a value on these collections. It could ultimately keep feeding people in 50 years, 100 years, 200 years time. They are extremely valuable'
– Agricultural scientist Dr Geoff Hawtin risked his life to save thousands of priceless seeds he had collected from across the Middle East before setting up the Doomsday Vault at the North Pole. Read his incredible story via the highlights section below
领英推荐
Promising predictions
Sticking with crops, a new artificial intelligence system is being touted as a remarkably accurate way to predict the perfect harvest time. This would improve crop yields, go some way to tackle food insecurity, help farmers optimise resources and reduce their environmental footprint. Read Soraya Ebrahimi’s report here .
Now I promised you an array of such stories – so here we are: Gillian Duncan reported this week on a new blood test that can predict Parkinson’s disease seven years before diagnosis ; Nick Webster has been learning about an innovative breast cancer test backed by AI that could deliver results in 10 minutes , without the radiation exposure of conventional mammograms; and lastly, we also learned this week how an increasing number of health professionals are using AI to tackle infertility and improve IVF success rates – read that here .
SNAPSHOT
And for more baby joy – this bundle of cuteness was the first newborn of Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi.
Baby Humam was born as the clock struck 12, bringing extra joy to Jordanian parents Ali Al Ibrahim and Hebah Al Zoubi.
“This Eid is truly special for us as we welcome our son into our lives,” they said. “Our family is blessed to share this moment on such an important day.”
Meet Dubai’s first Eid Al Adha baby here .
Retired at Insurance Sector
4 个月This week Beshara was interesting to read.The coverage of reshaping history is appreciable.Have a nice week endcto all readers.