Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
1. On This Day: May 5
A French military leader and the first emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821. Born on August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica, France, he rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars. Read more about Napoleon’s last journey at History Today.
2. After 4,800 Years Fossilized Mother and Child Found in Embrace
Fossilized bodies of a mother and child locked in an embrace have been found. The discovery was part of 48 remains found by archaeologists in graves in the Taichung area in Taiwan. Learn more at BBC News.
3. Mona Lisa’s Smile Might Have Been a Man’s
An art detective in Italy thinks that Leonardo da Vinci used two models to create the face of Mona Lisa: a woman and a man. Watch a video from AJ+ and learn more.
There is other mystery surrounding Mona Lisa — with its striking similarities to the painting in the Louvre Museum, the so-called Isleworth Mona Lisa has remained an art world mystery since she was found in 1912. Did Leonardo da Vinci paint the legendary portrait twice? Watch a clip from Secrets of the Dead: The Mona Lisa Mystery and learn about The Isleworth Mona Lisa.
4. Pyramid Interior Revealed Using Cosmic Rays
Using cosmic particles, a team of international researchers have reportedly revealed the internal structure of a 4,500-year-old Egyptian pyramid for the first time. Learn more at Live Science.
5. Hominins May Have Been Food for Carnivores 500,000 Years Ago
Tooth marks on a 500,000-year-old hominin femur bone found in a Moroccan cave indicate that it was consumed by large carnivores, likely hyenas. During the Middle Pleistocene, early humans likely competed for space and resources with large carnivores occupying the same areas. Learn more at Phys.org.
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