—Fake crystal Aztec skulls “” A fake crystal Aztec skull There’s a great report out about how the British Museum and the Smithsonian teamed up to prove that two crystal skulls, one at each museum, are actually fakes. Both skulls were purportedly made by Aztecs in Mexico prior to Columbus’ arrival. The British Museum bought its skull from Tiffany and Co. in 1897 while the Smithsonian received its skull in 1960 from an anonymous donor.
by Sarah Everts | January 30, 2013
—Rare Aztec Document Gets A Check-Up “” In 1521, the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan fell to the Spanish invaders, who burned libraries and destroyed most of the manuscripts pertaining to Aztec history, religious rituals and economy. The Codex Fejérváry-Mayer is one of just two dozen or so Aztec texts to survive the Spanish invasion.
by Sarah Everts | March 15, 2012
—Crystal Skulls Deemed Fake “A potpourri of analytical techniques reveals purported Aztec sculptures are not bona fide” Humans seem to have a predilection for fake quartz-crystal Aztec skulls. Since the 1860s, dozens of skull sculptures have appeared on the art market purporting to be pre-Columbian artifacts from Mesoamerica, that is, created by the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th century.
by Sarah Everts | March 04, 2013
To the network: Artful Science: Fake Crystal Aztec Skulls Just Another Electron Pusher: A glut of chemists with bachelor's degrees as well? Newscripts: Amusing news Aliquots The Safety Zone: Friday chemical safety round-up http://cenblog.org/grand-central/2013/02/this-week-on-central-science-fake-crystal-skulls-too-many-bachelors-degree-chemists-and-more 2013-02-01 17:00:09.0 http://cenblog.org/grand-central/ /grand-central/ This Week On CENtral Science: Fake Crystal Skulls, Too Many Bachelor's Degree Chemists, and More Carmen Drahl
by Carmen Drahl | February 01, 2013
Originally isolated from the dried leaves of a Mexican shrub, haplophytine is an active ingredient in "la hierba de la cucaracha," a natural insecticide in use since Aztec times. It comprises two heterocyclic segments and features a crowded quaternary carbon center. Chemists had made both wings of haplophytine, but the complete molecule had evaded synthesis.
by Carmen Drahl | July 20, 2009
In the past there had been waves of localized destruction, for example in Rome, the Popes raided marble from the Coliseum in order to construct new churches, and in Latin America, the Spanish conquistadors organised a mass destruction of Inca, Aztec and many other cultural artefacts – for example there are only fragments of Aztec written texts available due to the enthusiastic destruction of material by priests.
by Sarah Everts | April 03, 2013
It had been used to flavor xocoatl, the chocolate drink favored by the Aztecs, in Mexico, centuries before the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez (14851547) ran into it at the Aztec emperor Montezuma's court. Vanilla became popular in Europe soon after.? Today's vanilla beans of commerce, the Britannica says, are the cured, unripe fruit of Vanilla planifolia or Vanilla tahitensis.
by BY K. M. REESE | January 27, 2003
CLEAR SKIES University of Maryland researcher Lackson Marufu flew a Piper Aztec-E PA-23-250 airplane to help test air pollution during the 2003 blackout. PHOTO BY PEDRO BUENO Chemical & Engineering News ISSN 0009-2347 Copyright © 2004 E-mail the editor cen 82 25
by LOUISA DALTON | June 21, 2004
—Gut Microbes Bring Out Best In Cocoa “ACS Meeting News: Bacteria in a person’s colon break down tough-to-digest portions of the powder into fatty acids and heart-healthy small molecules” People have been stating—and overstating—the health benefits of cocoa ever since Aztec emperor Montezuma II drank it obsessively in the 1500s, according to John W.
by Lauren K. Wolf | March 24, 2014