Pyramids
Latest
'Assassin's Creed' predicted the new pyramid chamber discovery
Just days ago, scientists found a previously undiscovered chamber inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. As it turns out, the makers of Assassin's Creed: Origins had the jump on them. As Kotaku's Stephen Totilo notes, the space itself is already built into the game, which came out almost a week prior to the findings getting published. We already knew that the Egypt-set title is a stickler for historical accuracy, but this is on a whole other level.
Cosmic rays unlock new secrets in Egypt's Great Pyramid
It turns out that the 4,500 year old Great Pyramid of Giza still has some secrets to share. Using cosmic-ray imaging, an international team detected a large chamber within the structure that was previously unidentified, according to Nature. It's the first discovery within the Great Pyramid since the 19th century.
ICYMI: Egyptian tomb tech, new fusion reactors and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-20787{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-20787, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-20787{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-20787").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Everyone who ever wanted to be Indiana Jones or just give up on it all and join an archeological dig will be interested in this: A new project called "Scan Pyramids" will use infrared scanners and cosmic ray detectors to search for new tombs inside pyramids in Egypt, as well as attempt to discover the engineering details of how pyramids were constructed. Fascinating stuff! Plus scientists at the Max Planck Institute want to launch a new design for a fusion reactor. It has a twisted shape unlike the traditional donut design, which its scientists believe is safer than the first version.
Egypt hunts for hidden pyramid chambers with cosmic rays
Egyptologists, rejoice. A new project was launched on the weekend with the goal of scanning Egypt's pyramids to find secrets about how they were built, and even discover hidden rooms and chambers. The project is headed by Egypt's antiquity ministry, which is heading a team of experts from Japan, France and Canada. The aim is to use infrared scanners and rare, esoteric cosmic ray detectors to map the interior of several pyramids, including the Pyramids of Cheops and Chephren at Giza. The team said it may also use the same technique to prove (or disprove) a theory that the legendary Queen Nefertiti is buried in a chamber next to Tutankhamun.
Stroll through Egypt's pyramids on Google Street View
If you're leery about taking a trip to Egypt just now, Google can at least give you part of the experience with new Pyramids of Giza Street View imagery. That includes the Great Pyramid, the only remaining ancient wonder of the ancient world that's still standing, along with the Great Sphinx and Imhotep's Pyramid of Djoser. As befitting the addition of such a famous landmark, Google also included a raft of extras: imagery from the Abu Mena Christian site, the medieval Cairo Citadel fortification and other iconic spots. From there, you can head to the Google Cultural Institute's Egyption Pyramid gallery and see archival photos and drawings. As we found, you'll be able to while away a few enjoyable hours, and (we think) a digital tour carries a minimal risk of any curses.
Weekends with Engadget: Apple vs. Samsung round two, the new Engadget and more!
Welcome to Weekends with Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines from the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. For even more action, subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Engadget Daily: Amazon's new phone, Snapchat video and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Researchers think water helped ancient Egyptians build the pyramids
Long before the days of trucks and cranes, the ancient Egyptians were building pyramids out of giant bricks stacked hundreds of feet high. Even getting the stones to the construction site would have been an ordeal in Bronze Age. According to a new study published by researchers at the University of Amsterdam, workers may have placed the rocks on a sledge (a platform of sorts) and then wet the sand underneath, making it twice as stiff. The firm ground made it a heck of a lot easier to pull the rock along, reducing the amount of workers needed to get each stone to its destination. You can witness the difference a little water makes simply by walking on a beach below the high tide line, versus dry patches further up.
Amateur archaeologist finds possible pyramids using Google Earth
While most Google Earth hobbyists are satisfied with a bit of snapping and geotagging, some have far loftier ambitions. Satellite archaeologist Angela Micol thinks she's discovered the locations of some of Egypt's lost pyramids, buried for centuries under the earth, including a three-in-a-line arrangement similar to those on the Giza Plateau. Egyptologists have already confirmed that the secret locations are undiscovered, so now it's down to scientists in the field to determine if it's worth calling the diggers in.
NintendoWare Weekly: BurgerTime Deluxe, Anima: Ark of Sinners
If you want to remember the classic, seasoned BurgerTime gameplay before BurgerTime World Tour hits next week, you can check out BurgerTime Deluxe for Game Boy, out on 3DS Virtual Console today in North America at a cost of $2.99. If you want something new, the puzzle game Pyramids is that rarest of games: an original downloadable 3DS release. Players control a treasure hunter attempting to escape from pyramids by creating and destroying blocks. Finally, WiiWare now features the $10 Anima: Ark of Sinners, a distinctly Castlevania-style game based on a pen-and-paper RPG.
Rise and Shiny recap: A Tale in the Desert V
A Tale in the Desert V is a non-combat crafting paradise. That might sound a little strange, but the developers encourage players to work together to accomplish bigger and better things, making them feel as though they are part of a community. I have tried the game at different times over the years but never really became more than a visitor. I was glad to be given the opportunity to check it out, but even after a week I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. I have emerged from the tutorial a smarter citizen, but I know that around the corner, greater challenges wait. The game is not without its flaws, however, although many of the issues might fade as systems and controls become more apparent. Still, I found myself a little frustrated when the game asked me to sit and literally watch grass grow. I did it, though, and found an odd game, filled with mysteries. In a good way, of course.
