Extraordinary Experiences; Could Real Information Have Somehow Bypassed the Usual Sensory Channels?
Can we sense what’s happening to loved ones thousands of miles away? Why are we, sometimes, certain of a caller’s identity the instant the phone rings? Do intuitive hunches contain information about future events? Is it possible to perceive information without the use of the ordinary senses? Can psychic or “psi” experiences be studied by science, or are they beyond the reach of rational understanding?”
There is absolutely no doubt about it that you have asked questions concerning the myriad unexplained events which seem to move in that particular spectrum we are not able to see with the naked eye. Many people believe that such “psychic phenomena” are rare talents or divine gifts. Others don’t believe they exist at all.
Even though these vivid nightmares of malevolent dark shadows are assigned to sleep paralysis, pre-cognitive knowledge to coincidence and ghostly figures to an abundant imagination and fear, there could be another rational explanation for these blobs and blips to overlap our (classical) reality. To get a clearer picture about what is it that we see fleeing from our peripheral vision, what has, or is, creating this variety in believes and how to pour all this in the research fields of parapsychology and cognitive science; The Next Truth contacted Dr. Neil Dagnall and Dr. Kenneth Drinkwater from the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Their upcoming research (Neuropsychological and Cognitive-Perceptual characteristics associated with Mediums and Psychics) as well as their previous research in the scientific fields of Psychology, Neuropsychology, Parapsychology and Cognitive Psychology, neither question the reality of these foggy realms nor the beliefs and/or experiences people have or had on the contrary! Together with their students, Dr. Dagnall and Dr. Drinkwater are studying the individual differences that exist between people to appraise cognitive processing and neurological correlates.
To get more familiar with the research conducted by Dr. Dagnall and Dr. Drinkwater www.researchgate.net
Their intriguing Q&A can be read in the upcoming issue of The Next Truth (April 2020) www.magcloud.com
Incredible Technology: Laser Space Communications Goes Beyond Our Imagination
By Maria Anna van Driel, www.nexttruth.com
Since the dawn of the space age, space-based technologies, namely communications satellites, enable global telecommunications systems by relaying signals with voice, video and data to and from one or many locations. But that is all set to change soon.
CONTEC’s President Dr. Sunghee Lee (45) and his 32-headed team of engineers, software developers and satellite image processors have set goal to master a tremendous challenge in constructing corresponding networks for their customers and cooperation companies.
They are working hard to develop laser-based space communications systems and the technology of launch and satellite application fields which are the key to ensure rapid and accurate transmission of information from Earth-based alternatives to, among others, spacecrafts orbiting around the Earth.
The Korean company CONTEC (Collaborative and Novel Technologies) was founded in Jan. 5, 2015 with only a dream and a deep passion for engineering and all that future space technologies has to offer. Driven by the idea of ‘space being infinitive’, the company has overcome the challenge in creating a company system in where competent individuals are matching its philosophy what has propelled a snowball effect in its growth.
So, whether it comes to simply phoning a friend or using your Skype app, some of our daily communication is, without a doubt, based on sophisticated networks, with data being transferred at the speed of light between different nodes. And while these Earth-based alternatives to space technologies are already possible, it seems that CONTEC has definitely the people and knowledge to go beyond sophisticated networks and build your future highway in communication…yesterday!
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For more information on CONTEC, www.contec.kr
Or simply wait for the issue of April and the May/June issue of Young People Science in order to read the Q&A of Dr. Sunghee Lee 😊
Letter from Italy: Treating the Virus with a Proper Time Perspective
This morning I read the tweet and blog post of Dr. Marc Wittman: “Letter from Italy: Treating the Virus with a Proper Time Perspective”. (The understanding of individual time psychology can help fight the pandemic) https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sense-time/202003/letter-italy-treating-the-virus-proper-time-perspective
On his “Psychology Today” blog, Dr. Wittmann has posted a letter from his colleague Massimo Agnoletti, a Clinical Psychologist from Mestre, Italy, on how the coronavirus can be treated properly with the right time perspective.
https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Wittmann/e/B00IWESBUC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Coincidence or not but I also have mentioned a few times the psychological effects in, for instance, the 3 minute video I posted two days ago. https://youtu.be/dgghDn-mUAo It is scary to see how this outbreak is effecting our thinking and thus behaviour… absorbing this avalanche of newsfeed is, seemingly, creating an out-of-balance behaviour by means of a stressy/forced brain activity. It almost sees as if we have slide into an odd form of survival mode.
However, I recommend you reading Dr. Wittmann’s blog post on the website of “Psychology Today” on the real effect(s) created by, among others, a psychological isolation. Indeed, our immune system has to deal with a second, invisible intruder!
Quantum Biology May Help Solve Some of Life’s Greatest Mysteries
By Catherine Offord, www.the-scientist.com
In one of the University of Sheffield’s physics labs, a few hundred photosynthetic bacteria were nestled between two mirrors positioned less than a micrometer apart. Physicist David Coles and his colleagues were zapping the microbe-filled cavity with white light, which bounced around the cells in a way the team could tune by adjusting the distance between the mirrors. According to results published in 2017, this intricate setup caused photons of light to physically interact with the photosynthetic machinery in a handful of those cells, in a way the team could modify by tweaking the experimental setup.
That the researchers could control a cell’s interaction with light like this was an achievement in itself. But a more surprising interpretation of the findings came the following year. When Coles and several collaborators reanalyzed the data, they found evidence that the nature of the interaction between the bacteria and the photons of light was much weirder than the original analysis had suggested.
[Top]A Q&A with Dr. Zahi Hawass on the adventurous existence of Archaeologists and Egyptologists
Don’t Just Visit the Past, Experience It!
By Maria Anna van Driel, www.nexttruth.com
The movies of Indiana Jones and The Librarian immediately come to mind with most people when hearing the word “archeology”. They like to think about the life of an archaeologist as a mysterious and a very adventurous endeavour. Well, they are partly right, except that this intriguing corner of science has mainly to do with extreme logistics and the scientific study of the material remains of past human life and activities rather than creepy mummies coming back to life, ghostly knights lingering in dark dungeons and sacred relics topped with glistening jewels.
In order for you to gain a better understanding of what Archeology and Egyptology is, The Next Truth reached out to the world-renowned Egyptian archaeologist, Egyptologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, Dr. Zahi Hawass.
Dr. Hawass was born in a small village near Damietta, Egypt. Although he originally dreamed of becoming an attorney, he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in Greek and Roman Archaeology from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt in 1967 and in 1979, Dr. Hawass earned a diploma in Egyptology from Cairo University after which he then worked at the Great Pyramids as an inspector—a combination of administrator and archaeologist.
At the age of 33 he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to attend the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to study Egyptology, earning a master of arts degree in Egyptology and Syro-Palestinian Archaeology in 1983, and his PhD in Egyptology in 1987 from the Graduate Group in the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World, concentrating on “The Funerary Establishments of Khufu, Khafra and Menkaura During the Old Kingdom.”
In 1998 Dr. Hawass received the First Class Award for Arts and Sciences by the President. He was recognized by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in 2006 and received an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a documentary on ancient Egypt in 2006.
Over the course of his career Dr. Hawass has made a number of major discoveries that led to significant findings, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. He also initiated the Egyptian Mummy Project, which used modern forensic techniques such as CAT scans to study both royal and non royal mummies. But besides being an archeologists and Egyptologist, Dr. Hawass is also a regular columnist for Egypt Today magazine, and the online historical community, Heritage Key and the author and co-author of many books relating to Egyptology which includes his latest book “Zahi Hawass’ Secret Egypt”.
To become more familiar with Dr. Hawass’ appearance in countless TV programs that have spread the story of ancient Egypt worldwide, and books visit his website, www.drhawass.com
Welcome Dr. Hawass. I appreciate the time you took for letting the next generation scientists peer into your career as an Archeologist, Egyptologist and the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza, Saqqara, Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of the Kings and Archeologist.
Q: You are a world-renowned archaeologist and an expert in the one branch of science that allows you to step into the history and culture of ancient Egypt. But for those young scientists who don’t know much about your background, can you tell us a little about yourself? Who is Dr. Zahi Hawass?
Dr. Hawass: I’m and archeologist and an Egyptologist, mostly well-known for having served as the Minister of Antiquities in Egypt. I started my career looking to be a lawyer, but then, I focused on archeology during my bachelors. I gained a Fulbright fellowship and travelled to the US where I got my doctorate. After that, I was able to do more and major excavations, write books, and give lectures. I was rewarded from many cities in the US, and received about 7 honorary doctorates. I was chosen as one of the Times’ top 100 in 2006. Currently, I am working in my research projects, excavating the Valley of the Kings and supervising the Egyptian project where we CT scan the mummies.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the history of Archeology?
Dr. Hawass: The history of archeology began by adventurers and treasure hunters; we can think of G.B. Belzoni who discovered Seti I’s tomb and Howard Vyse who opened tunnels in the Sphinx with dynamite. Then, this was followed by a wave of scientific research in the 19th century; here we can mention Flinders Petrie, the father of Egyptology, Lepsius from England, and many Egyptologists many began to introduce it as a science. The ancient Egyptian language began to be studied by all philologists worldwide.
In the 20th centuries, many countries began to establish departments to offer the chance to study Egyptology. University departments and museums used to come and excavate in Egypt with students from all over the world. The Egyptian archaeologists came after: the first was Ahmed Pasha Kamal who was involved in the cachette of the mummies in 1881. After that, Egypt entered a new era, opening departments for archeology with many students but still there was still a lack of training.
When I became head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2002, I made major important work to train many young people in excavation techniques and for them to travel outside of the country and come back with doctorate degrees. Now Egyptology became a solid science in the country.
Q: How do you become an Archeologist and what are his or her responsibilities?
Dr. Hawass: You should start with undergraduate studies in archeology, follow it with a masters and then do postgraduate studies. If you can, join a university or a museum for employment. It is then important to do research in modern Egypt on ancient Egypt by working in excavations. It is also crucial to engage with other scholars and attend scientific conferences to present papers. In terms of responsibilities, one has to protect, excavate and write about monuments, do major conservation and publish what is discovered. Finally, one should give public lectures to spread awareness about Egyptology.
Q: Did you have a role model that influenced your decision to become an Archeologist?
Dr. Hawass: No, only the story that made me fall in love with archeology. There was no model for the public to take after. My decision to become an archeologist came from the fact that I had been working at an excavation in Egypt, when the workers called me to let me know they had found a beautiful female statue of Aphrodite. This was a wonderful object and as soon as I saw it, I felt that I had found my love: archeology.
It is important to have passion in this field of work as it can be challenging; passion is the main key for success as it gives one the endurance and the patience to not only keep going but to give a lot of efforts in the projects we take on.
Q: How do Archeologists know where to dig? Which tools are being used during an excavation?
Dr. Hawass: Archeologists know by conducting research to establish the reasons to excavate in a particular location. For example, when I began to look for the tombs of the pyramid builders, I studied the Giza plateau. I found the oldest limestone wall dated to the Old kingdom, this wall was to separate the royal and workmen. Also, in the same area, there was a mud seal with the hieroglyph ‘pr-sh- na’ (workmen installation). In my research, I put a question mark on that. When I returned after obtaining my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, I began to start looking. I found it in the same location I did my research in.
Discoveries also come by accident. You have to start the excavation regardless. We found the valley of the golden mummies in Bahareya oasis by complete accident. For instance, when the antiquities guard of the temple of Alexander the Great was riding on his donkey to his home, the leg of the donkey got stuck in a hole, the guard stepped off the donkey and he looked in the hole: he found tombs with mummies covered with gold. I went with my team for 3 years; we lived in Bahareya oasis and discovered the Valley of the golden mummies.
Q: Is being an Archeologist dangerous?
Dr. Hawass: Sometimes it is. For example, I was excavating the tunnel of Seti I and this tunnel goes down 174 m inside the mountains. While I was excavating, a stone about over a tone fell on my leg and broke my toes. Also, while I was excavating, looking for the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, a stone half a ton in weight fell almost on my head. Thankfully, the stone was half a meter high away from my head but this made a macular hole in my eye. I can definitely say that archeology is dangerous, but adventurous and fun.
Q: On your website we can read that you have made a number of major discoveries over the course of your career, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. How are these sites being secured and why?
Dr. Hawass: They are completely secured. Every tomb and antiquity site does have appointed guards. There are also security antiquities police in charge of the protection of the site and there is a system of inspectors and directors in every site. Their responsibility is to protect and maintain the sites so it is very well supervised.
Q: How are the historical and valuable artifacts, found at a site, stored and categorized?
Dr. Hawass: When an artifact is discovered, you clean it; you restore it on site if there is a need for it and before you remove it from the area in which it was found. Then, you carry out its documentation through photography. You write a description for it then put in a registry book that goes to the government. After that, you move the artifacts to a storage magazine to be kept safely. When you need to write a book or an article on the artifacts, you can go and study them to decide the date of this artifact.
Q: What is for you the most impressive find that you have made in your career?
Dr. Hawass: I think that every discovery I made has added something to me and to my life. For example, the tombs of the pyramid builders were very important for me as they were the ultimate proof and answer to all the people who hold extraordinary beliefs and theories about the pyramids. For example, those people who believe in aliens having built them or that Atlantis is under them.
When I found a new pyramid near Khufu’s pyramid that also made a very deep impression on me personally. When I did the CT scan of the mummies and successfully identified the mummy of Hatshepsut, and how Ramses III was murdered – these were crucial moments for Egyptology. And, you know with DNA we got to find out how Tutankhamun died as well as we were able to put together the family of Tutankhamun, identifying the grandparents and parents. Now, my excavations in the Valley of the Kings are revealing many important aspects to the East and West Valley; we are hoping that one day we will discover the tomb of Queen Nefertiti in either.
Q: Why is Archeology important today?
Dr. Hawass: It is important today because each and every country’s constitutes that of the whole world and humanity’s. Egypt, of course, is no exception. Moreover, studying the past and restoring it helps us understanding how things evolved until they came into being today and how they can keep evolving to the future. We need to learn and remind ourselves of the wisdom, science and technology of ancient people – all of these are important to be understood today.
Q: Today you can look back on an impressive career and much to be proud of; what would you say is a moment in your career that stands out as most meaningful?
Dr. Hawass: There are many good moments that I consider significant and that makes me proud: when I scanned the mummy of Tutankhamun. This happened in Luxor, when I took the coffins out and I met Tutankhamun face to face. Another great moment was when I found the secret doors inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Another noteworthy event was when I found the tooth in the canopic box of Queen Hatshepsut; the molar lead me to properly identify her mummy. I would say these were some of the most beautiful moments in my life as an archeologist.
Q: What holds the future for your books and your career?
Dr. Hawass: As always, I am involved in many archeology and Egyptology projects. Moreover,I am now writing my life story which is almost done and due to be published soon. In terms of more work, I want to continue my excavation work in the Valley of the Kings as well as wrap up the second royal mummy project. Lastly, I am planning to give 20 lectures in 20 cities all over the US in May and June.
Q: Dr. Hawass, thank you so much for this interview. I am sure it will be an inspiration to many. Do you have any additional advice you can give for aspiring Archeologists who want to excavate and secure the mysteries of past civilizations?
Dr. Hawass: I think it is very important for individuals to be passionate about the work they are doing. When you have passion, you can achieve from the littlest to the biggest things. Not only will it give you perseverance but also patience to keep at it during difficult times.
[Top]Our Macabre Fascination With the Human Predator
Throughout history, humans have committed horrific crimes, which seem to reflect a primordial and animalistic behavior in human survival. But what exactly makes someone a serial killer? Are they the product of bad genes, environmental factors, or something even worse?
What is it that triggers someone to follow a path of violence and committing horrible crimes? Is it possible to unravel the mind of a serial killer and unlinking the many narrow alleys of their entangled labyrinth?
Honestly, I have no concrete answer for what drives these ‘celebrity monsters’ as Prof. Scott Bonn refers to them in his article “What Drives Our Curious Fascination With Serial Killers?” on his blog of Psychology Today.
Reading his article, among others, I tried to find a clear/logic explanation for my personal fascination with these human predators. I have to admit that it was not easy to do so due to the fact that this ‘little voice’ in my head kept saying, “It is wrong to feel this fascination for these ‘actors’ playing one of the most horrifying roles!” I cannot say otherwise then Prof. Bonn being absolutely right about the fact that many of us are experiencing some form of guilt in the moment of expressing our fascination for these man and woman who are, apparently, feel a ‘powerful rush’ while running around in a violent and (un) controllable manner.
However, as I wrote Prof. Bonn in a Face Book comment, “I guess my personal interest would lie in having a brief opportunity of unraveling their way of thinking as well as trying to grasp the world in which these people apparently live. Does this breaking down of the glass walls in the labyrinth of their (insane) minds provide me a certain pleasure? Hum…I like solving complex puzzles and so, I think one can call it so. In this I would say that my fascination for these people, not their acts, lies in ‘cracking’ their ‘personal code’ what let me understand their motive.”
While trying to analyze my personal interest for these ‘humanoid predators’, this question of what it is that makes these killers so appealing to us, lay in front of me like an open and abandoned piece of dry desert. And, can we say, with some caution, that deep down inside of all of us a little serial killer…or two…is hiding? Perhaps we can divide ‘us’ into two main groups… group A are the people who are asking the question of “Why?” Their fascination lies in unraveling the mind of a (serial) killer from a psychological point of view. And group B is asking the question of “How?” what indeed sounds like a macabre fascination for these humanoid predators. Although they may look nothing like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger, but I think there is a possibility a (serial) killer could spawn from group B, seeking the thrill behind the question of ‘How?’
The truth is that no one really knows, and despite the efforts of modern criminology to decode the brain of a typical serial killer, a concrete explanation has not reached yet. However, the one thing that is known is that many serial killers have suffered early childhood trauma, such as sexual or physical abuse.
The articles in this issue of The Next Truth could provide a clearer answer to some of these quest-ions but I have to put out a WARNING in advance. Some of the articles contain disturbing content and shocking photographs!
Don’t Just Visit the Past, Experience It!
The March/April issue of Young People Science is available online! https://www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/1512517
In the March/April issue of Young People Science several renowned scientists are letting you curl up on the couch with your favorite soda and a bag of potato chips while they take you on an incredible journey through “Human History”.
But you can also take a real fun quiz about Neanderthals, drive your parents crazy while following the instructions of how to build a bubble-powered rocket in the kitchen 👩🚀, read crazy facts about medieval castles and much more.
So fasten your seatbelts as you are about to step into an adventurous journey to the era of ancient Egyptian with the world-renowned Archeologist and Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass 🤠, learn from Prof. McAndrew why it is that we love blood-curdling screams 😱, and hear from Prof. Frederick L. Coolidge & Prof. Thomas Wynn how dreaming has changed human evolution, among others.
Ask your parents for you to purchase a PoD or digital version of Young People Science and share it with your teachers, parents, nephews, nieces and/or children from your neighborhood. Because, history is FUN!
Click on the link above, hit the ‘FOLLOW’ button as hard as you can and never miss an issue of “The Next Truth: Young People Science” 😃
All Good Things Come in Three :)
Hi everyone,
Three super announcements of which I am proud to share with you all…
1) The issue of March is available via MagCloud but I have to put out a WARNING in advance. Some of the articles contain, for some people, a disturbing content and shocking photographs!
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/1512517
2) Dr. Hendra Kesuma, who was a speaker at the “Aerospace Europe Conference 2020” in France this month, distributed The Next Truth during this conference by handing over his French, Japanese and Canadian colleagues a copy of the January 2020 issue. WOW!
I am truly feeling honored that The Next Truth has gained this much attention. Thank you so much Dr. Kesuma for all the efforts made and I hope that new collaborations will result from this conference.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hendra_Kesuma
3) The website of The Next Truth has undergone some adjustments. For instance, the banner has changed and the new page “What is our goal” has been added. http://nexttruth.com
