| Japanese stem cell researcher wins Balzan prize By COLLEEN BARRY 2010-09-06T15:39:33ZMILAN (AP) -- A Japanese researcher who found a way to give adults cells certain characteristics of embryonic stem cells, a process scientists say could eventually lead to cures for spinal cord injuries and other ailments, has been awarded the Balzan Prize for biology.... hosted.ap.org |
How Moses parted the Red Sea Computer simulation suggests a strong wind could push back water enough in Eastern Nile Delta to allow a crossingBlog: Science works out how sea was parted for IsraelitesAs the book of Exodus details, when Moses led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, God obligingly clove the Red Sea in two, allowing his chosen ones to escape to freedom.New research suggests, however, that the famous parting could have been a natural occurrence, rather than divine intervention – and that it might not have been the Red Sea that was parted.A computer simulation model has shown that a persistent strong east wind, blowing at a certain point in the ancient Eastern Nile Delta, could push back a body of water, creating a land bridge for around four hours – ample time for an unhappy band of slaves to be liberated.Keen readers of Exodus will note that God drove back the sea at Moses behest by issuing a strong east wind, so the simulation does not dispute biblical events, but perhaps suggests the prophet could merely have been fortunate with the timing, and location, of his arrival at the water's edge.An American research team from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University of Colorado at Boulder ruled out that the crossing could have occurred at the Red Sea, arguing that the basin would have to have been completely flat for the sea to be parted.They turned their attention to maps of the ancient topography of the Nile delta, and found that the crossing could have occurred at an ancient branch of the river, which flowed into a coastal lagoon then known as the lake of Tanis.The researchers used archaeological records, satellite images and current day maps to estimate the water flow and depth that may have existed 3,000 years ago, then used computer simulation to simulate the impact of wind at the site.They found that a wind of 63 miles an hour, lasting for 12 hours, would have pushed back waters estimated to be six-feet deep.This would have exposed mud flats for four hours, creating a dry passage about two to two and half miles long and three miles wide. The water would be pushed back into both the lake and the channel of the river, creating barriers of water on both sides of newly exposed mud flats."People have always been fascinated by this Exodus story, wondering if it comes from historical facts," said Carl Drews of NCAR, the lead author of the study."What this study shows is that the description of the waters parting indeed has a basis in physical laws."The biblical version of events tells of the chariots of the Egyptian army hastening after Moses across the sea bed, only for the walls of water to torrent down on them, drowning man and horse alike.This too can be explained by the computer simulation, Drews said."The simulations match fairly closely with the account in Exodus," he said."The parting of the waters can be understood through fluid dynamics. The wind moves the water in a way that's in accordance with physical laws, creating a safe passage with water on two sides and then abruptly allowing the water to rush back in."So perhaps Moses did lead the Israelites across the basin of a stretch of water. Just not, apparently, the Red Sea.EgyptIsraelJudaismChristianityIslamReligionArchaeologyAdam Gabbattguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Video | British IVF pioneer wins Nobel prize for medicine Physiologist Robert Edwards, the British scientist who pioneered in-vitro fertilisation, which has helped in the conception and birth of 4 million people around the world, is honoured in Stockholm guardian.co.uk |
Swiss celebrate digging world's longest tunnel By FRANK JORDANS 2010-10-16T01:18:59ZSEDRUN, Switzerland (AP) -- Workers hugged, cheered and set off fireworks as the huge drill broke through the last stretch of rock deep in the Swiss Alps. There was delight at the end of the tunnel - the world's longest - when it was completed Friday.... hosted.ap.org |
Langbroek promotes psychological testing of political candidates Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek says psychometric testing could weed out candidates who would not cope with the scrutiny of public life. abc.net.au |