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New Study Suggests Shroud of Turin May Be 2,000 Years Old, Reigniting Debate Over Its Authenticity

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The Shroud of Turin, a 14-foot-long linen cloth revered by many as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, has sparked centuries of debate and fascination. The cloth, which bears a faint image of a man with wounds consistent with crucifixion, has been at the center of intense religious devotion and scientific scrutiny since it first emerged in the 1350s. Now, new research by Italian scientists suggests that the shroud may indeed be around 2,000 years old, potentially aligning with the time of Christ, and reopening the conversation about its authenticity.

The Shroud of Turin first came to public attention in the mid-14th century when it was presented by French knight Geoffroi de Charny to the dean of the church in Lirey, France. Touted as the Holy Shroud, the cloth was believed to be the very one used to wrap Jesus’ mutilated body after his crucifixion. The image on the shroud, depicting a gaunt man with his arms folded and bearing wounds that correspond with biblical accounts of Christ’s crucifixion, quickly became an object of veneration.

However, skepticism over the shroud’s authenticity has been a persistent theme. In 1988, a team of international researchers conducted a carbon dating analysis on a small piece of the shroud. The results, which dated the cloth to between 1260 and 1390 AD, seemed to confirm that the shroud was a medieval forgery. This conclusion led many to dismiss the shroud as a pious fraud, manufactured centuries after the death of Christ.

Despite the 1988 findings, the Shroud of Turin has continued to be a subject of scientific interest and religious devotion. In recent years, a team of Italian researchers from the Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council conducted a new study using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), a technique that measures the natural aging of flax cellulose, the primary material in linen.

The researchers analyzed eight small samples of fabric from the shroud, using X-rays to uncover tiny details in the linen’s structure and cellulose patterns. By studying the breakdown of cellulose over time, the team was able to estimate the age of the shroud. Their findings suggest that the cloth was likely manufactured around the time of Jesus, approximately 2,000 years ago. This conclusion is supported by comparisons with other ancient linens from Israel, such as those found at Masada, which date back to the first century.

The study also addressed potential flaws in the 1988 carbon dating analysis. Lead author Dr. Liberato De Caro pointed out that contamination in the samples used for the carbon dating could have skewed the results. He argued that if the cleaning procedures were not thoroughly performed, the carbon-14 dating could be unreliable. The new research suggests that the shroud’s cellulose breakdown is consistent with linens dating from the first century, rather than the Middle Ages.

The implications of this new research are significant. If the shroud is indeed 2,000 years old, it would lend credence to the belief that it is the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The Bible recounts how Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud before placing it in a tomb. Matthew 27:59-60 states, “Then Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.”

The Shroud of Turin has captivated the imagination of believers and skeptics alike for centuries. Its image, depicting a man with sunken eyes, lacerations on the back, thorn marks on the head, and bruises on the shoulders, aligns closely with the biblical description of Christ’s crucifixion. Historians have noted that the markings correspond to the wounds inflicted during Jesus’ final hours, including the crown of thorns and the scourging by Roman soldiers.

Despite the new findings, the Shroud of Turin remains a deeply polarizing artifact. While some scholars and religious leaders see the latest research as a validation of the shroud’s authenticity, others remain unconvinced. The 1988 carbon dating results are still cited by skeptics who argue that the shroud is a medieval forgery, created during a period when relics of Christ’s passion were in high demand.

Moreover, the scientific community remains divided. Some researchers have raised concerns about the reliability of the WAXS technique and the interpretation of the data. The challenge of accurately dating ancient textiles, particularly those that have been subjected to varying environmental conditions over the centuries, continues to complicate the quest for definitive answers.

The Shroud of Turin is not just a religious relic; it is also a scientific enigma. Over 170 peer-reviewed academic papers have been published on the shroud since the 1980s, each contributing to the ongoing debate over its origins and significance. Testing in the 1970s examined whether the images on the shroud were created through painting, scorching, or other means, but no definitive conclusions were reached. Other studies have analyzed the bloodstains on the shroud, with some researchers identifying substances that suggest the presence of real blood from a torture victim.

The Shroud of Turin is currently housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, where it has been preserved since 1578. It is only publicly displayed on special occasions, drawing pilgrims and tourists from around the world. Despite the ongoing controversy, the shroud remains one of the most intensely studied human artifacts in history, symbolizing both the deep mysteries of faith and the relentless pursuit of scientific truth.

As new technologies and methodologies continue to emerge, the Shroud of Turin will likely remain a focal point of research and debate. Whether it is ultimately proven to be the burial cloth of Jesus or a remarkable medieval forgery, its impact on religious and scientific communities is undeniable. The story of the Shroud of Turin is not just about a piece of cloth; it is a testament to humanity’s enduring quest for understanding in the face of mystery.

The Shroud of Turin stands at the intersection of faith, history, and science, challenging our understanding of both the past and the present. The latest research using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering offers compelling evidence that the shroud may be much older than previously thought, potentially dating back to the time of Jesus. However, the debate over its authenticity is far from settled, with both believers and skeptics continuing to search for answers. As the shroud continues to be studied, it remains a powerful symbol of the enduring mysteries that lie at the heart of human belief and inquiry.

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STD epidemic slows as new syphilis and gonorrhea cases fall in US

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NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. syphilis epidemic slowed dramatically last year, gonorrhea cases fell and chlamydia cases remained below prepandemic levels, according to federal data released Tuesday.

The numbers represented some good news about sexually transmitted diseases, which experienced some alarming increases in past years due to declining condom use, inadequate sex education, and reduced testing and treatment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Last year, cases of the most infectious stages of syphilis fell 10% from the year before — the first substantial decline in more than two decades. Gonorrhea cases dropped 7%, marking a second straight year of decline and bringing the number below what it was in 2019.

“I’m encouraged, and it’s been a long time since I felt that way” about the nation’s epidemic of sexually transmitted infections, said the CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin. “Something is working.”

More than 2.4 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia were diagnosed and reported last year — 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, 600,000 of gonorrhea, and more than 209,000 of syphilis.

Syphilis is a particular concern. For centuries, it was a common but feared infection that could deform the body and end in death. New cases plummeted in the U.S. starting in the 1940s when infection-fighting antibiotics became widely available, and they trended down for a half century after that. By 2002, however, cases began rising again, with men who have sex with other men being disproportionately affected.

The new report found cases of syphilis in their early, most infectious stages dropped 13% among gay and bisexual men. It was the first such drop since the agency began reporting data for that group in the mid-2000s.

However, there was a 12% increase in the rate of cases of unknown- or later-stage syphilis — a reflection of people infected years ago.

Cases of syphilis in newborns, passed on from infected mothers, also rose. There were nearly 4,000 cases, including 279 stillbirths and infant deaths.

“This means pregnant women are not being tested often enough,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California.

What caused some of the STD trends to improve? Several experts say one contributor is the growing use of an antibiotic as a “morning-after pill.” Studies have shown that taking doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex cuts the risk of developing syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

In June, the CDC started recommending doxycycline as a morning-after pill, specifically for gay and bisexual men and transgender women who recently had an STD diagnosis. But health departments and organizations in some cities had been giving the pills to people for a couple years.

Some experts believe that the 2022 mpox outbreak — which mainly hit gay and bisexual men — may have had a lingering effect on sexual behavior in 2023, or at least on people’s willingness to get tested when strange sores appeared.

Another factor may have been an increase in the number of health workers testing people for infections, doing contact tracing and connecting people to treatment. Congress gave $1.2 billion to expand the workforce over five years, including $600 million to states, cities and territories that get STD prevention funding from CDC.

Last year had the “most activity with that funding throughout the U.S.,” said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

However, Congress ended the funds early as a part of last year’s debt ceiling deal, cutting off $400 million. Some people already have lost their jobs, said a spokeswoman for Harvey’s organization.

Still, Harvey said he had reasons for optimism, including the growing use of doxycycline and a push for at-home STD test kits.

Also, there are reasons to think the next presidential administration could get behind STD prevention. In 2019, then-President Donald Trump announced a campaign to “eliminate” the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030. (Federal health officials later clarified that the actual goal was a huge reduction in new infections — fewer than 3,000 a year.)

There were nearly 32,000 new HIV infections in 2022, the CDC estimates. But a boost in public health funding for HIV could also also help bring down other sexually transmitted infections, experts said.

“When the government puts in resources, puts in money, we see declines in STDs,” Klausner said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa showed telltale warning signs before erupting in 2022

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists can’t know precisely when a volcano is about to erupt, but they can sometimes pick up telltale signs.

That happened two years ago with the world’s largest active volcano. About two months before Mauna Loa spewed rivers of glowing orange molten lava, geologists detected small earthquakes nearby and other signs, and they warned residents on Hawaii‘s Big Island.

Now a study of the volcano’s lava confirms their timeline for when the molten rock below was on the move.

“Volcanoes are tricky because we don’t get to watch directly what’s happening inside – we have to look for other signs,” said Erik Klemetti Gonzalez, a volcano expert at Denison University, who was not involved in the study.

Upswelling ground and increased earthquake activity near the volcano resulted from magma rising from lower levels of Earth’s crust to fill chambers beneath the volcano, said Kendra Lynn, a research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and co-author of a new study in Nature Communications.

When pressure was high enough, the magma broke through brittle surface rock and became lava – and the eruption began in late November 2022. Later, researchers collected samples of volcanic rock for analysis.

The chemical makeup of certain crystals within the lava indicated that around 70 days before the eruption, large quantities of molten rock had moved from around 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) to 3 miles (5 kilometers) under the summit to a mile (2 kilometers) or less beneath, the study found. This matched the timeline the geologists had observed with other signs.

The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984. Most of the U.S. volcanoes that scientists consider to be active are found in Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast.

Worldwide, around 585 volcanoes are considered active.

Scientists can’t predict eruptions, but they can make a “forecast,” said Ben Andrews, who heads the global volcano program at the Smithsonian Institution and who was not involved in the study.

Andrews compared volcano forecasts to weather forecasts – informed “probabilities” that an event will occur. And better data about the past behavior of specific volcanos can help researchers finetune forecasts of future activity, experts say.

(asterisk)We can look for similar patterns in the future and expect that there’s a higher probability of conditions for an eruption happening,” said Klemetti Gonzalez.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Waymo’s robotaxis now open to anyone who wants a driverless ride in Los Angeles

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Waymo on Tuesday opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology since the company began as a secret project at Google 15 years ago.

The expansion comes eight months after Waymo began offering rides in Los Angeles to a limited group of passengers chosen from a waiting list that had ballooned to more than 300,000 people. Now, anyone with the Waymo One smartphone app will be able to request a ride around an 80-square-mile (129-square-kilometer) territory spanning the second largest U.S. city.

After Waymo received approval from California regulators to charge for rides 15 months ago, the company initially chose to launch its operations in San Francisco before offering a limited service in Los Angeles.

Before deciding to compete against conventional ride-hailing pioneers Uber and Lyft in California, Waymo unleashed its robotaxis in Phoenix in 2020 and has been steadily extending the reach of its service in that Arizona city ever since.

Driverless rides are proving to be more than just a novelty. Waymo says it now transports more than 50,000 weekly passengers in its robotaxis, a volume of business numbers that helped the company recently raise $5.6 billion from its corporate parent Alphabet and a list of other investors that included venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz and financial management firm T. Rowe Price.

“Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a blog post.

Despite its inroads, Waymo is still believed to be losing money. Although Alphabet doesn’t disclose Waymo’s financial results, the robotaxi is a major part of an “Other Bets” division that had suffered an operating loss of $3.3 billion through the first nine months of this year, down from a setback of $4.2 billion at the same time last year.

But Waymo has come a long way since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009 as part of project “Chauffeur.” Since its 2016 spinoff from Google, Waymo has established itself as the clear leader in a robotaxi industry that’s getting more congested.

Electric auto pioneer Tesla is aiming to launch a rival “Cybercab” service by 2026, although its CEO Elon Musk said he hopes the company can get the required regulatory clearances to operate in Texas and California by next year.

Tesla’s projected timeline for competing against Waymo has been met with skepticism because Musk has made unfulfilled promises about the company’s self-driving car technology for nearly a decade.

Meanwhile, Waymo’s robotaxis have driven more than 20 million fully autonomous miles and provided more than 2 million rides to passengers without encountering a serious accident that resulted in its operations being sidelined.

That safety record is a stark contrast to one of its early rivals, Cruise, a robotaxi service owned by General Motors. Cruise’s California license was suspended last year after one of its driverless cars in San Francisco dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a different car driven by a human.

Cruise is now trying to rebound by joining forces with Uber to make some of its services available next year in U.S. cities that still haven’t been announced. But Waymo also has forged a similar alliance with Uber to dispatch its robotaxi in Atlanta and Austin, Texas next year.

Another robotaxi service, Amazon’s Zoox, is hoping to begin offering driverless rides to the general public in Las Vegas at some point next year before also launching in San Francisco.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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