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Dalí watercolor bought for £150 could fetch £30,000 at auction
A Salvador Dalí watercolor illustration purchased for just £150 at a Cambridge house clearance sale in 2023 is…
- A Salvador Dalí watercolor illustration titled "Vecchio Sultano" (1966) purchased for just £150 at a Cambridge house clearance sale in 2023 is now expected to fetch £20,000 to £30,000 at auction, representing a potential 200-fold return
news.artnet+2. - The work was part of an abandoned project where Dalí was commissioned by wealthy Italian couple Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto to create 500 illustrations of The Arabian Nights, but he completed only 100 before losing interest
news.artnet+2. - A Cambridge-based antiques dealer spotted the piece in a London garage clearance sale, noticing Dalí's signature and a Sotheby's sticker that led to authentication by renowned Dalí expert Nicolas Descharnes
news.artnet+1. - The 15-by-11 inch watercolor and felt tip work depicts a sultan with a bejeweled turban and represents an unusual departure from Dalí's typical surrealist style, showing his fascination with Moorish culture
news.artnet+1. - The piece will go under the hammer at Cheffins Art and Design Sale on October 23, 2025, after being previously offered unsuccessfully at Sotheby's in 1995 with estimates of £8,000 to £12,000
news.artnet+1.
Guggenheim marks Rauschenberg centennial with major show
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York is marking the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg's birth with a…
- The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York is celebrating the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg's birth with "Robert Rauschenberg: Life Can't Be Stopped," featuring over a dozen seminal works from October 10, 2025 through April 5, 2026
thecitylife+1. - The exhibition's centerpiece is Barge (1962–63), a monumental 32-foot-long silkscreen painting that is returning to Manhattan for the first time in nearly 25 years after spending most of that time at Guggenheim Bilbao
thecitylife+1. - The show explores Rauschenberg's revolutionary incorporation of photographic imagery into traditional art mediums, including his experimental Silkscreen Paintings series of approximately 80 works produced between 1962 and 1964
thecitylife. - The exhibition traces his artistic evolution from early works like "Untitled (Red Painting)" (ca. 1953) to sophisticated image transfer techniques using unconventional materials like galvanized metal and early inkjet printing
thecitylife. - This celebration is part of a global slate of 2025-26 initiatives honoring Rauschenberg's legacy, building on the Guggenheim's decades-long relationship with the artist that began with exhibitions in the 1960s
thecitylife+1.
Trump admin orders Muir Woods to remove inclusive historical signage
The National Park Service has removed educational signage at Muir Woods National Monument in California that highlighted Indigenous…
- The National Park Service removed educational signage at Muir Woods National Monument in California that highlighted Indigenous land stewardship, women's conservation efforts, and problematic aspects of historical figures under pressure from the Trump administration
19thnews+1. - The removed "History Under Construction" exhibit, installed in 2021, provided additional historical context about the Coast Miwok people who stewarded the land, the California Club women's organization that launched early conservation efforts, and racist backgrounds of figures like William Kent and Gifford Pinchot
19thnews+1. - The signage was removed following Secretarial Order 3431 issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to implement Trump's executive order on "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which directs agencies to eliminate signs that "disparage" Americans
19thnews+1. - Park rangers had created the exhibit to fill gaps in the original timeline, which began in 1872 with Yellowstone's establishment while ignoring thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship and women's early conservation work
19thnews+1. - The removal marks the first confirmed implementation of the administration's directive to eliminate what it deems "improper ideology" from national parks, drawing criticism from advocates who argue it undermines the agency's mission to tell complete American stories
19thnews+1.
Ancient grasshopper vessel sale sparks theft debate
A controversial ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel carved in the shape of a grasshopper sold for £340,000 at Apollo…
- A controversial ancient Egyptian grasshopper vessel sold for $456,824 at Apollo Art Auctions in London despite widespread claims it was stolen from King Tutankhamun's tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter in the 1920s
artcentron+1. - Leading Egyptologists including Christian Loeben argue the 3,300-year-old ivory and wood cosmetic container rightfully belongs to Egypt, citing its pristine condition as evidence it spent millennia sealed in Tut's tomb
artcentron+1. - The artifact's provenance traces back to Carter, who allegedly sold it to Egyptian dealer Maurice Nahman in the 1930s, before it passed through elite collectors including the Guennol Collection and Sheikh Saud al-Thani's heirs
artcentron+1. - Apollo Art Auctions defended the sale, stating there is "no documented evidence" linking the grasshopper to Tutankhamun's tomb and that it doesn't appear on official excavation records
artcentron+1. - Both Christie's and Sotheby's previously rejected the piece due to its complicated backstory, highlighting growing scrutiny over potentially stolen cultural artifacts in the antiquities market
artcentron+1.
4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian ‘soul house’
Researchers at Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum have discovered a complete 4,000-year-old handprint on an ancient Egyptian "soul house"…
- Researchers at Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum discovered a complete 4,000-year-old handprint pressed into the underside of an ancient Egyptian "soul house" while preparing for their upcoming exhibition
themedialine+2. - The rare handprint, dating from Egypt's Middle Kingdom period (2055-1650 BC), likely belonged to the potter who created the clay funerary model and was made when moving the piece from workshop to dry before firing
themedialine+2. - Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the museum, called it "rare and exciting," noting she had "never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before"
themedialine+2. - The soul house was a two-story clay model with symbolic food offerings including bread, lettuce, and an ox head, designed to serve as a dwelling place for deceased souls in Egyptian tombs
themedialine+2. - The discovery highlights the often-overlooked ancient Egyptian craftspeople, as little is known about potters who were considered of low social status compared to other artisans, making this complete handprint particularly significant
themedialine+2.
Shaolin Temple’s ‘CEO monk’ faces criminal probe
Shi Yongxin, the influential abbot of China's world-famous Shaolin Temple, has been stripped of his ordination certificate and…
- Shi Yongxin, the influential abbot of China's world-famous Shaolin Temple, has been stripped of his ordination certificate and placed under criminal investigation for alleged embezzlement and serious violations of Buddhist vows
firstpost+2. - The Buddhist Association of China announced Monday it had revoked the 59-year-old monk's certification following accusations of misappropriating temple funds and maintaining improper relationships with multiple women
firstpost+1. - The Shaolin Temple confirmed Sunday that Shi faces a joint investigation by multiple government departments over alleged criminal offenses, including embezzling project funds and temple assets
firstpost+2. - Dubbed the "CEO monk" for his aggressive commercialization of the 1,500-year-old monastery, Shi transformed the historic birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu into a global commercial empire during his nearly three-decade tenure as abbot
firstpost+1. - This marks the second major investigation into Shi's conduct, as similar accusations surfaced in 2015 from which he was cleared in 2017, but news of the current investigation has dominated Chinese social media with related hashtags garnering over 560 million views on Weibo
firstpost+1.
George Lucas announces 2026 opening of narrative art museum
After decades of cinematic influence on pop culture, George Lucas made his first-ever appearance at San Diego Comic-Con…
- George Lucas made his first-ever appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, receiving thunderous applause from thousands of fans wielding lightsabers as he unveiled his passion project: the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
imdb+1. - The 81-year-old filmmaker described the museum as "a temple to the people's art," which will open in 2026 in Los Angeles' Exposition Park and span 300,000 square feet across an 11-acre campus designed to resemble a giant space cruiser
imdb+1. - The museum will house Lucas's personal 50-year collection including works by Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, original comic art from Flash Gordon and Peanuts, and early drawings of Iron Man and Black Panther
imdb+1. - Lucas began collecting narrative art in the 1960s when comic strips were affordable, saying "I could get an 'Alley-Oop' for $30," and expanded his collection after Star Wars success brought financial resources
prpeak. - The panel was moderated by Queen Latifah and included filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang, with del Toro emphasizing the political importance of comics throughout history
prpeak.
Johns Hopkins becomes latest academic press to license books for AI training
Johns Hopkins University Press has announced it will license its extensive book catalog to train artificial intelligence models,…
- Johns Hopkins University Press announced it will license its extensive book catalog to train artificial intelligence models, becoming the latest academic publisher to enter the AI copyright debate amid financial pressures in higher education
winbuzzer. - Authors were given until August 31 to opt out of the licensing agreement, with Executive Director Barbara Kline Pope citing the need for a "meaningful" new revenue stream while promising only modest returns of under $100 per title per license
winbuzzer+1. - Sharon Ann Murphy, a history professor at Providence College, emerged as a vocal critic of the publisher's AI licensing initiative, calling the argument that AI training would benefit authors through increased discoverability "specious"
winbuzzer. - The press positioned the licensing deal as a defensive strategy against unauthorized content scraping, with Pope stating they are "increasingly concerned" that major AI companies already have their books from pirated sites
winbuzzer. - Several major academic publishers including Oxford University Press have already embraced AI licensing deals, while others like MIT Press have taken more cautious approaches by soliciting author input before making commitments
winbuzzer.
AI restores lost Roman writings, transforming digital archaeology
Google DeepMind has unveiled an artificial intelligence model called Aeneas that can decode and restore ancient Latin inscriptions…
- Google DeepMind has developed an AI model called Aeneas that can decode and restore ancient Latin inscriptions from the Roman Empire, achieving 72% accuracy in identifying geographical origins among 62 Roman provinces and dating texts within approximately 13 years
phys. - The AI was trained on the Latin Epigraphic Dataset containing 176,861 inscriptions worth 16 million characters spanning from the 7th century BCE to 8th century CE, analyzing both textual and visual elements of ancient writings
phys+1. - In collaborative tests with 23 professional historians, Aeneas reduced character error rates in text restoration from 39% to 21% and increased historians' confidence by 44%, proving useful as a research starting point in 90% of cases
phys+1. - The system successfully analyzed famous inscriptions like Emperor Augustus's "Res Gestae Divi Augusti", identifying two possible dating periods that precisely match ongoing scholarly debates about the text's composition
phys+1. - With approximately 1,500 new Latin inscriptions discovered annually, Aeneas addresses growing challenges in classical studies by helping historians process fragmentary texts damaged by millennia of weathering, and is freely available through the Predicting the Past platform
phys.
Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs emerge on Oahu beach after decade buried
A collection of ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least 500 years has reappeared on Oahu's Waianae Coast…
- Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least 500 years have reemerged on Oahu's Waianae Coast after being buried beneath sand since 2016, marking their first full visibility in nearly a decade
archaeologymag+1. - The collection consists of 26 anthropomorphic stick figures carved in sandstone, with the largest measuring over 8 feet tall and featuring rare detailed fingers, stretching 115 feet along the shoreline near a U.S. Army recreation center
sfgate+1. - Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Glen Kila interprets the largest figure as representing Maui the demigod, with outstretched fingers symbolizing the rising and setting sun as a spiritual symbol connecting to ancestral stories
sfgate. - The petroglyphs naturally emerge and disappear due to seasonal ocean swells and shifting sands, creating a protective burial cycle that has preserved these vulnerable sandstone carvings for centuries
archaeologymag+1. - Located on publicly accessible shoreline that requires military ID for parking access, the site represents a rare example of Hawaiian petroglyphs carved directly on the coastline rather than on volcanic lava flows
archaeologymag+1.
Auction sales drop 6-10% as art market correction deepens
Global auction sales slid again in the first six months of 2025, as the three dominant houses—Christie’s, Sotheby’s…
- Sotheby's, Christie's, and Phillips brought in $3.98 billion in the first half of 2025, down 6% from last year and 44% below 2022 peaks, marking the weakest first half in a decade and third consecutive year of declining sales
qz. - Post-war and contemporary art suffered the steepest decline at 19%, with high-profile failures including a $70 million Giacometti bronze that went unsold at Sotheby's New York in May
qz+1. - Old Masters bucked the trend with a 15% increase, led by Christie's record-setting £31.9 million Canaletto sale that helped drive the category's strongest performance in years
artlyst+1. - Luxury goods and collectibles showed resilience with Christie's luxury division growing 29% and jewelry sales jumping 68%, while Millennials and Gen Z now account for nearly one-third of buyers who prefer smaller works under $50,000
artlyst+1. - The market correction reflects generational shifts as baby boomer collectors reduce purchasing while younger buyers favor online bidding, digital culture, and luxury goods over traditional high-end paintings
qz.
LVMH weighs $1B sale of Marc Jacobs amid luxury slowdown
French luxury titan LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is weighing a $1 billion sale of its New York-based…
- LVMH is in advanced talks to sell its Marc Jacobs fashion label for approximately $1 billion, with potential buyers including Authentic Brands Group, Bluestar Alliance, and WHP Global
globalbankingandfinance+1. - The potential sale comes as LVMH reported a 2% revenue decline in Q1 2025 to €20.3 billion, reflecting broader challenges in the luxury market amid economic uncertainties and weakening demand
longyield.substack+1. - Marc Jacobs, which generated about €600 million in sales last year, represents one of only two major brand divestitures by LVMH in a decade, following the 2016 sale of Donna Karan/DKNY for $650 million
ainvest. - The move reflects LVMH's strategy to focus on higher-margin flagship brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior while facing pressure from potential U.S. tariffs and cooling global luxury demand
longyield.substack+1. - If completed, the deal would mark one of Europe's largest fashion transactions this year, following Prada's $1.4 billion acquisition of Versace earlier in 2025
globalbankingandfinance+1.
4,400-year-old Sumerian tablet reveals world’s first trickster fox
A 4,400-year-old Sumerian tablet has finally been fully translated after more than a century of scholarly neglect, revealing…
- Dr. Jana Matuszak has translated a 4,400-year-old Sumerian tablet (Ni 12501) from Nippur, Iraq, revealing the world's earliest recorded trickster fox myth
phys+1. - The fragmentary tablet, dating to 2540-2350 BCE, tells of storm god Ishkur being trapped in the underworld, causing drought and famine when his multicolored cattle and fish-filled rivers disappear
colombiaone+1. - Despite being excavated in the 19th century, the tablet remained unstudied for over a century due to its damaged condition and confusion caused when Samuel Noah Kramer featured it on his 1956 book cover without its museum number
phys+1. - When Enlil convenes a divine assembly to rescue his son Ishkur from the kur (underworld), only Fox volunteers for the dangerous mission, using cunning to gain access by hiding ritual food offerings rather than consuming them
greekreporter+1. - The narrative breaks off before revealing Fox's success, but represents the earliest known "cunning fox" motif in world literature, predating famous tricksters like those in Aesop's fables by millennia
youtube+1.
US Senators target art market’s money laundering loopholes
A bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation Wednesday targeting money laundering and sanctions evasion in America's $25…
- A bipartisan group of US senators led by Senator John Fetterman introduced the Art Market Integrity Act to require art dealers and auction houses to comply with anti-money laundering regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act
artdependence+1. - The legislation targets America's $25 billion art market, currently one of the last major unregulated financial sectors, making it vulnerable to exploitation by sanctioned individuals, terrorist financiers, and criminals
artdependence+1. - Recent federal cases highlight the urgency, including Hezbollah financier Nazem Ahmad who allegedly laundered over $160 million through art purchases and Russian oligarchs using art to evade sanctions
artdependence+1. - The bill would align the United States with international standards already adopted by the United Kingdom, European Union, and Switzerland, while exempting artists and businesses with under $50,000 in annual art transactions
artdependence+1. - The measure has broad support from national security and transparency organizations, including Transparency International US, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the American Jewish Committee
artdependence+1.
Artist cancels Smithsonian show over censorship concerns
Artist Amy Sherald canceled her upcoming solo exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday after learning…
- Artist Amy Sherald canceled her upcoming solo exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery after learning the museum was considering removing her painting of a Black transgender woman depicted as the Statue of Liberty
sfchronicle+1. - The decision to withdraw "American Sublime," scheduled to open September 19, eliminates what would have been the first solo exhibition by a Black contemporary artist at the prestigious Washington institution
sfchronicle+1. - The controversial painting, "Trans Forming Liberty" (2024), features a transgender woman wearing a blue gown and holding a flower-filled torch, which reportedly prompted internal concerns at the museum about potential political backlash
sfchronicle+1. - Sherald rejected the Smithsonian's suggestion to replace the painting with a video featuring public reactions to transgender issues, stating she opposed opening transgender visibility "for debate"
news.artnet. - The controversy reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and federally funded cultural institutions, as the president has signed executive orders targeting museums and transgender communities
news.artnet.
Banksy’s “the migrant child” removed from venice wall for preservation
Art restorers have removed Banksy's deteriorating work "The Migrant Child" from the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon in…
- Art restorers have removed Banksy's deteriorating street art "The Migrant Child" from the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon in Venice to preserve the work for future public display
ctvnews. The removal was carried out in consultation with people close to the secretive British street artist, according to Banca Ifis' art program that is financing the restoration projectctvnews.
- The artwork, depicting a shipwrecked child wearing a lifejacket and holding a pink smoke bomb, appeared along Rio di San Pantalon in Venice in May 2019 during the Venice Biennale and was acknowledged by Banksy
ctvnews+1. The piece became a tourist destination and was marked on online mapsctvnews.
- Six years of exposure to Venice's notorious humidity and canal conditions had led to the deterioration of about a third of the work
ctvnews+1. The mural was painted on the canal-facing side of a crumbling 17th-century palazzo, making it particularly vulnerable to environmental damageenglish.aawsat.
- The restoration is being overseen by Federico Borgogni, who previously removed dust and cleaned the surface before detaching a section of the palazzo's facade overnight Wednesday
ctvnews. Banca Ifis, which purchased the building last year, is funding the entire restoration projectenglish.aawsat.
- The bank intends to display the work to the public as part of free cultural events once restoration is completed, with plans to transform Palazzo San Pantalon into an exhibition space linked to the Venice Biennale art fair
ctvnews+1.
Court tosses $9M Bored Ape judgment but affirms trademark protection for NFTs
The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a $9 million judgment that favored Yuga Labs in…
- The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a $9 million judgment against artist Ryder Ripps and partner Jeremy Cahen, ruling that Yuga Labs failed to prove their satirical NFT collection would cause consumer confusion with the Bored Ape Yacht Club brand
crypto+1. - The appeals court sent the trademark infringement case back to a California federal court for trial, where a jury will determine whether Ripps' "Ryder Ripps Bored Ape Yacht Club" NFTs violated Yuga's trademark rights
crypto+1. - Despite overturning the monetary award, the court established a landmark precedent by affirming that NFTs qualify as "goods" under US trademark law, strengthening future trademark protections for digital assets
crypto+1. - The court rejected Ripps' defenses that his collection was protected artistic expression under the First Amendment or qualified as nominative fair use, while maintaining Yuga's trademark priority as the first commercial user of the Bored Ape marks
crypto+1. - Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano vowed to "finish the fight" in the lower court, emphasizing that the ruling confirming NFTs as protectable trademarks represents "an important win for every NFT holder"
crypto.
100,000-year-old burial site found in Israeli cave
Archaeologists in central Israel have uncovered what they believe to be one of the world's oldest burial sites,…
- Archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be one of the world's oldest burial sites at Tinshemet Cave in central Israel, containing human remains dating back 100,000 years that were carefully arranged in ceremonial positions
newsmax+2. - The excavation has uncovered remains of five early humans, including two complete skeletons positioned in fetal arrangements within deliberately dug pits, accompanied by ritual objects like ochre pigments, basalt pebbles, and animal remains sourced from hundreds of kilometers away
newsmax+1. - The findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, represent the first Middle Paleolithic burials discovered in over 50 years and confirm a pattern of burial practices from similar sites in northern Israel like Skhul Cave and Qafzeh Cave
newsmax+1. - Israel served as a geographical bridge where Neanderthals from Europe and Homo sapiens from Africa met and likely interbred, though researchers have yet to definitively identify which human group the Tinshemet remains belong to
newsmax. - The discovery provides evidence that burial practices emerged alongside other symbolic behaviors like jewelry-making and body painting, representing early human concepts of territory, spirituality, and group identity that echo through human history
newsmax.
Phillips introduces fee discounts for early auction bidders
Phillips auction house is introducing a new "priority bidding" system this fall that will offer significantly reduced buyer's…
- Phillips auction house announced a groundbreaking "priority bidding" system starting this fall that offers significantly reduced buyer's premium rates for collectors who place binding bids at least 48 hours before live auctions
ocula+1. - Early bidders will pay only 25% buyer's premium on the first $1 million (versus the standard 29%), with continued discounts applying to their entire winning bid amount even if they bid higher during the live auction
puck+1. - The innovation aims to restore market intelligence that auction houses have lost due to increased online bidding and art advisor involvement, giving sellers better insight into buyer interest 48 hours before sales
puck. - Phillips CEO Martin Wilson described this as a "first-of-its-kind" initiative designed to encourage early engagement while creating "spirited bidding" and providing greater certainty for sellers
luxurydaily+1. - The system will be tested through fall 2025 auctions as Phillips seeks to compete with Christie's and Sotheby's despite having the highest standard buyer's premium rates among major auction houses
puck.
LA’s eclectic Museum of Jurassic Technology damaged in fire
Los Angeles' Museum of Jurassic Technology, once dubbed by Smithsonian Magazine as the city's "strangest museum," suffered extensive…
- A fire of unknown origin broke out at Los Angeles' Museum of Jurassic Technology on the night of July 8th, with founder David Wilson and his family fighting the flames using handheld fire extinguishers before seven LAFD engines arrived to assist
lacmaonfire.blogspot+1. - The museum's gift shop was completely gutted while the rest of the first floor sustained extensive smoke damage described as "a thin creamy brown liquid evenly poured over all surfaces"
lacmaonfire.blogspot+1. - Wilson heroically rushed into the smoke-filled building after alarms sounded at 11:30 p.m., confronting "a ferocious column of flame" in the gift shop area before firefighters extinguished the blaze by 12:05 a.m.
lacmaonfire.blogspot+1. - The Culver City museum, known as "Los Angeles' strangest museum," expects to remain closed until August while undergoing repairs with huge fans churning to clear smoke damage
lacmaonfire.blogspot+1. - Financial losses are expected to approach $75,000 in lost revenue and restoration costs for the shoestring nonprofit, which has launched a fundraising campaign accepting donations through its website and PayPal
lawrenceweschler.substack.
DeepMind’s Aeneas AI tool deciphers hidden patterns in ancient Roman texts
Google DeepMind researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system that can decipher, restore, and provide new historical insights…
- Google DeepMind researchers have developed an AI system called Aeneas that can decipher, restore, and provide new historical insights about ancient Roman inscriptions, according to a study published in Nature
sciencenews. - The system analyzed the famous Res Gestae Divi Augusti—Emperor Augustus' autobiographical inscription—and uncovered previously unrecognized parallels with Roman legal documents and "imperial political discourse" that had escaped human historians for centuries
sciencenews+1. - Aeneas uses a generative neural network to search for parallels within a database of over 176,000 Latin inscriptions, helping historians interpret, attribute and restore fragmentary texts through combined textual and visual analysis
sciencenews+1. - When tested on the Res Gestae inscription, Aeneas identified two probable date ranges that exactly reflected scholarly disagreements about when the text was composed, validating the AI's analytical capabilities
sciencenews+1. - More than 90% of historians who tested Aeneas found it helpful, making epigraphers both more accurate and faster at determining the age and location of ancient inscriptions
sciencenews+1.
Shipwreck on Scottish beach identified as Revolutionary War frigate
A 250-year-old shipwreck discovered by a schoolboy on a remote Scottish beach has been identified as a Royal…
- Archaeologists have identified a 250-year-old shipwreck discovered by a schoolboy on Sanday island in Orkney as the Earl of Chatham, formerly HMS Hind, a Royal Navy frigate that served in the American Revolutionary War
news.sky+1. - The vessel was built in 1749 and saw action during the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s and served as a convoy escort during the American Revolutionary War in the late 1770s before being decommissioned in 1784
news.sky+1. - After its military service, the ship was renamed Earl of Chatham and became a 500-tonne whaling vessel that completed four Arctic seasons before wrecking in the Bay of Lopness in March 1788, with all 56 crew members surviving
news.sky+1. - The wreck emerged in February 2024 after winter storms swept away protective sand that had concealed it for centuries, prompting local farmers to use tractors to haul 12 tons of oak timbers from the beach
news.sky+1. - Dendrochronology analysis revealed the ship was built with timber from southern England, and researchers used archival records and community detective work to identify the vessel through a process of elimination
news.sky+1.
AI artwork celebrating famed Lionel Messi goal scores $1.87M at Christie’s auction
"Living Memory: Messi - A Goal in Life," a groundbreaking AI-powered digital artwork capturing Lionel Messi's favorite career…
- "Living Memory: Messi - A Goal in Life," an AI-powered digital artwork by Refik Anadol capturing Lionel Messi's favorite career goal, sold for $1.87 million at Christie's online auction
press.christies+1. - The immersive artwork transforms Messi's 2009 UEFA Champions League header against Manchester United into an eight-minute digital sculpture using cutting-edge AI technology and biometric data including heartbeat patterns and breathing rhythms
press.christies+1. - Created through collaboration between renowned media artist Anadol and football legend Messi, the piece was exhibited at Rockefeller Center for 10 days before the auction, attracting thousands of visitors
press.christies+1. - All proceeds from the sale will benefit educational programs across five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through Inter Miami CF Foundation's global partnership with UNICEF
press.christies+1. - The groundbreaking work establishes a new benchmark for ethical AI art creation, transforming memory into measurable global impact through the fusion of sport, technology, and philanthropy
press.christies+1.
Rare 1,000-year-old carved face found in Polish lake
Underwater archaeologists have uncovered a carved wooden face dating to approximately 967 AD in Lake Lednica, Poland, offering…
- Underwater archaeologists from Nicolaus Copernicus University discovered a 1,000-year-old wooden face carved into a structural beam in Lake Lednica, Poland, measuring 12 cm tall and 9 cm wide
dailygalaxy+1. - The artifact dates to approximately 967 AD during the reign of Mieszko I, Poland's first Christian ruler, marking a crucial period when the country was transitioning from paganism to Christianity
dailygalaxy+1. - The intricately carved face, featuring realistic eyes, nose, and mouth, was likely part of defensive ramparts and may have represented a protective deity or spirit watching over the medieval Slavic settlement
dailygalaxy+2. - Horse jaws and bones found nearby suggest the face was connected to ritual practices and protective sacrifices, indicating the persistence of pagan beliefs during early Christianization
dailygalaxy+1. - Similar carved faces have been discovered in other Slavic cities including Wolin, Novgorod the Great, and Staraya Ladoga, suggesting a broader artistic and spiritual tradition across medieval Slavic settlements
dailygalaxy+1.
China builds world’s largest inflatable dome over construction site
China has unveiled the world's largest inflatable dome over a construction site in Jinan, creating a massive 50-meter-tall…
- China has unveiled the world's largest inflatable dome over a construction site in Jinan, standing 50 meters tall and spanning 20,000 square meters to contain dust and reduce noise pollution
parametric-architecture+1. - The dome, developed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), covers the Honglou 1905 project in a commercial area near schools, residential buildings, and a century-old church
parametric-architecture+1. - The structure blocks 90% of dust, reduces construction noise by 40 decibels, and creates a controlled all-weather workspace that allows year-round construction without weather delays
parametric-architecture+1. - Built from high-strength PVDF material and supported entirely by air pressure, the dome requires no internal beams and can be quickly assembled and disassembled for use across multiple projects
parametric-architecture+1. - This innovation is part of China's broader push toward sustainable construction practices, with similar structures already tested in Beijing and included in the country's 2030 sustainable construction plans
parametric-architecture+1.
Archeologists discover untouched Etruscan tomb outside Rome
A Baylor University-led archaeological team has uncovered a rare, intact 2,600-year-old Etruscan chamber tomb at the San Giuliano…
- A Baylor University-led archaeological team has uncovered a rare, intact 2,600-year-old Etruscan chamber tomb at the San Giuliano necropolis in central Italy, representing one of the most significant discoveries in recent decades.
ancient-origins+1 - The sealed burial chamber contains the remains of four individuals lying on carved stone beds, surrounded by over 100 remarkably preserved grave goods including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments, and delicate silver hair spools.
ancient-origins+2 - The tomb dates back to the 7th century BC during the Orientalizing period and has remained completely undisturbed since its sealing, making it an exceptional find in Etruscan archaeology where most chamber tombs have been looted over centuries.
ancient-origins+1 - The San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project (SGARP), led by Dr. Davide Zori, has documented over 600 tombs in the necropolis since 2016, but this is the first intact chamber tomb discovered at the site.
ancient-origins+1 - The discovery provides a unique opportunity to study Etruscan burial practices and beliefs about the afterlife, with preliminary analysis suggesting the four individuals might be two male-female pairs awaiting further anthropological and genetic study.
ancient-origins+2
Milan seeks house arrest for top figures in skyscraper permit scandal
Prosecutors in Milan are seeking the house arrest of property developer Manfredi Catella and city councilor Giancarlo Tancredi,…
- Milan prosecutors are seeking house arrest for developer Manfredi Catella, founder of major Italian developer Coima, and city councilor Giancarlo Tancredi on bribery charges related to the city's decade-long skyscraper boom
dezeen+1. - The investigation centers on alleged abuses in fast-track building permits that accelerated skyscraper construction following Milan Expo 2015, which transformed the city into a development hotspot
dezeen+1. - Over 100 construction sites have stalled and three building sites have been seized as part of the sprawling probe, which has effectively frozen construction activity in Italy's financial capital
dezeen. - Notable architect Stefano Boeri, known for the Bosco Verticale project, is also under investigation but prosecutors are not seeking his arrest
dezeen. - A judge will decide this week whether to issue the house arrest warrants after interrogations scheduled for the six suspects, including four others beyond Catella and Tancredi
dezeen+1.
Archaeologists find trilobite amulet in Roman mining settlement
Excavations at the A Cibdá de Armea settlement in Galicia, Spain have revealed the first trilobite fossil ever…
- Archaeologists excavating the 2,000-year-old Roman settlement A Cibdá de Armea in Galicia, Spain discovered the first trilobite fossil ever found in a Roman archaeological context
iflscience+1. - The Middle Ordovician fossil, dating back over 450 million years, was found in a trash heap associated with a high-status household and had been deliberately modified with seven artificial wear facets on its underside
iflscience+1. - The specimen was intentionally shaped to serve as a protective amulet or pendant, likely worn as part of a necklace or bracelet for magical or talismanic purposes
iflscience+1. - This discovery represents only the third trilobite fossil ever confirmed to have been collected and used by people more than 1,000 years ago, and the eleventh found at archaeological sites worldwide
iflscience+1. - The fossil originated from central Iberia, approximately 430 kilometers from the Armea site, suggesting it was brought to Galicia by traders or settlers from the Lusitania region during the prosperous metal mining period between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE
iflscience.
Antonio Solario painting returned to Italy after missing for 52 years
A Renaissance masterpiece "Madonna and Child" by Antonio Solario has finally been recovered and returned to Italy's Civic…
- A Renaissance painting "Madonna and Child" by Antonio Solario was successfully returned to Italy's Civic Museum of Belluno after being stolen in 1973, ending a 52-year search for the missing artwork
news.yahoo+1. - The painting was purchased in good faith by Baron de Dozsa in Austria in 1973, shortly after the theft, and later inherited by his widow Barbara de Dozsa who kept it at their Norfolk estate
news.yahoo+1. - Barbara de Dozsa initially refused to return the painting, citing the UK Limitations Act of 1980 which would make her the legal owner since more than six years had passed since the theft and her husband's purchase was unconnected to the crime
news.yahoo+1. - Art recovery lawyer Christopher Marinello of Art Recovery International successfully negotiated the painting's return by explaining that despite UK law favoring de Dozsa, the work remained on Interpol and Carabinieri stolen art databases, making it impossible to sell, display, or transport without risk of confiscation
news.yahoo+1. - The painting was officially returned to the Belluno museum in an emotional ceremony in July 2025, with Arte Generali insurance company covering all logistical costs as a charitable donation
news.yahoo+1.
Microsoft to create digital twin of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Microsoft announced Monday it is partnering with the French government to create a digital replica of Paris' Notre-Dame…
- Microsoft is partnering with the French government to create a digital twin of Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral, preserving every architectural detail of the 862-year-old Gothic landmark
anewz+1. - The project will take at least a year to complete and cost several million dollars, with the digital replica being donated to the French State for display at the future Musée Notre Dame de Paris
euronews. - The initiative builds on Microsoft's successful collaboration with French heritage digitization firm Iconem to create a digital model of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
anewz+1. - Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized that digital twins help with long-term maintenance by capturing precise records, calling it "a priceless record that will still be in use a century from now"
anewz. - The Notre-Dame project is part of Microsoft's broader European expansion, which includes establishing research teams in Strasbourg to develop multilingual datasets for underrepresented European languages
euronews+1.