junglee_iitk - Slashdot User

Submission + - Discovery of new micro-organisms in the stratosphe (ptinews.com) 1

Submitted by junglee_iitk on Monday March 16, 2009 @07:02PM

junglee_iitk writes: Three new species of bacteria, which are not found on earth and highly resistant to ultra violet radiation, have been discovered in the upper stratosphere by some Indian scientists. These bacteria which do not match any species on earth were found in samples collected through a balloon sent up to the stratosphere in April 2005. The payload consisted of a cryosampler containing 16 evacuated and sterilised stainless steel probes. Throughout the flight, the probes remained immersed in the liquid neon to create a "cryopump effect". These cylinders after collecting air samples from different heights ranging from 20 to 41 km were parachuted down and safely retrieved, it said.

Submission + - Theives find first cemetery of Pharaonic dentists

Submitted by

junglee_iitk

on Monday October 23, 2006 @04:08AM

junglee_iitk writes: "The arrest of tomb robbers has led archaeologists to the first of the graves of three royal dentists. The tomb robbers discovered the site two months ago. "We have to thank the thieves," Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said. Excavation continues (pictures) in hope to find more tombs in the area. Their location near the Step Pyramid of King Djoser — believed to be Egypt's oldest pyramid — indicate the respect accorded dentists by Egypt's ancient kings, who "cared about the treatment of their teeth". Although archaeologists have been exploring Egypt's ruins intensively for more than 150 years, Hawass believes only 30 percent of what lies hidden beneath the sands has been uncovered."

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