SECRETS buried deep in the sands of the Arabian Peninsular will soon be uncovered thanks to AI.
Archaeologists have turned to artificial intelligence to help detect potential sites in the Rub al-Khali desert, Abu Dhabi.
The vast stretch of desert, better known as the “The Empty Quarter”, is 250,000 square miles of ochre-coloured dunes.
The desert is the largest area of continuous sand in the world.
It occupies more than one-fourth of Saudi Arabia’s total area and features varied topography.
One of the driest regions in the world, the Rubʿ al-Khali is virtually uninhabited and largely unexplored.
The harsh conditions of the desert can often hide potential ancient sites.
However, researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi have developed a high-tech solution to make the search easier.
The team created a machine learning algorithm to analyse images collected by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a satellite imagery technique that uses radio waves to detect objects hidden beneath surfaces including, vegetation, sand, soil and ice.
Diana Francis, an atmospheric scientist and one of the lead researchers on the project, said: “We needed something to guide us and focus our research.”
Francis then trained the machine to use data from an already-known site, Saruq Al-Hadid in Dubai.
She said: “Once it was trained, it gave us an indication of other potential areas that are still not excavated.”
She added that the technology was precise to within 19 inches and could create 3D models of the expected structure to give archaeologists a better idea of what’s buried below.
Traditionally, archaeologists have used ground surveys to detect potential sites, while optical satellite images have gained popularity for searching large areas for unusual features.
However, the new AI technology will make the search easier.
Khalifa University isn’t alone in using artificial intelligence to detect potential sites.
Amina Jambajantsan, a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute, is using machine learning to speed up the “tedious job” of searching through high-resolution drone and satellite images for potential sites of interest.
Meanwhile, researchers from Yamagata University have been using AI technology to decipher Nazca civilisation geoglyphs in Peru.
Using the new tech, archaeologists found 303 geoglyphs, which they later confirmed by visiting the sites photographed in their search.
Archaeologist Masato Sakai, from Yamagata University, said: “The use of AI in research has allowed us to map the distribution of geoglyphs in a faster and more precise way.”
“The traditional method of study, which consisted of visually identifying the geoglyphs from high-resolution images of this vast area, was slow and carried the risk of overlooking some of them.”
In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the authors explained the discovery process and discoveries themselves.
The AI model was particularly good at picking up smaller relief-type geoglyphs which are harder to spot with the naked eye.
The authors said: “Of the 303 newly discovered figurative geoglyphs, 178 were individually suggested by the AI, and 125 were not individually AI-suggested.”
STRICTLY Come Dancing fans claimed a pro’s ‘well and truly wrecked’ their partner ahead of Saturday’s live show.
Last week saw all 15 famous faces take to the dance floor for their first live performances.
Olympic swimmer Tom Dean has been paired with Ukrainian pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
In a video shared to Instagram, Nadiya showed the pair finishing up their rehearsal on Thursday.
Captioning the post, she wrote: “Thursday Update: 10 sets of three, hips, posture.
” Face? Face is actually having a good time.
“We are ready for Friday’s camera block @bbcstrictly. Let’s do it partner @tomdean00 #teamgolden #strictlycomedancing.”
Speaking in the clip, the dancer introduced her three-time gold medal winning partner.
However, as Tom entered the frame, he revealed: “I’m so tired!”
The 24-year-old went on to explain how he and Nadiya had done “ten sets of three”.
This meant they had been practising their full routine three times consecutively, for ten times, bringing them to a total of 30.
Tom later added: “I just want to go to bed.”
In week one, Tom and Nadiya performed a Tango to “Golden” by Harry Styles, scoring 23 out of 40.
Meanwhile on Instagram, Nadiya’s followers soon shared their support for the pair ahead of Saturday’s show.
One wrote: “You’ve well and truly wrecked him.
“Can’t wait to see you and disco Tom smash the cha cha on Saturday. Love you lots team.”
Another added: “You’ve worn Tom out Nadiya. Have the best time on Saturday you’re amazing.”
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
A third penned: “Zero slide! Who can blame him!! Keep going Team Golden.”
While a fourth added: “You both make up a great partnership, with Ms Nadiya skills and tuition – potential glitter ball in sight.”
A fifth remarked: “Can’t wait to watch you on Saturday night, this is your year Nadiya.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
Vicksburg Daily News -
VICKSBURG, MS – In a coordinated effort from the team at Extra Full, Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce, community volunteers, and the Vicksburg Young Professionals, 10,000 meals were measured, packed, weighed, and boxed in just under an hour and a half at the gym at Crawford Street church. Last night, approximately 100 volunteers were divided up […]
The post Extra Full and community volunteers packed 10,000 meals in under two hours appeared first on Vicksburg Daily News.
GARY Barlow has left fans heartbroken after being forced to scrap two scheduled performances at the last minute due to a flight cancellation caused by the UK’s severe weather.
The Take That frontman was set to perform aboard P&O Cruises’ Iona on Thursday night but was unable to make it due to the ongoing travel chaos.
Taking to Instagram, the 53-year-old singer shared the disappointing news with his followers.
He posted an update on his story, saying: “Very sad to report our flight’s been cancelled – meaning I won’t make it for either of the shows on @pandocruises Iona tonight – so sorry to let everyone down – it’s been one of those days.”
He added that despite his efforts to resolve the situation, it is out of his hands for the moment, but promised to work on rescheduling the shows.
“Sorry everyone,” Gary concluded.
The concert cancellations come as Britain grapples with extreme weather conditions, which have caused significant transport disruption and flooding across the country.
The Met Office issued an amber weather warning on Thursday evening, warning of heavy rain and potential flooding in areas across the Midlands and the South West.
The severe alert, which lasted from Thursday evening through to Friday morning, cautioned that flooding and travel delays were highly likely.
As torrential rain continues to batter the country, large parts of the UK remain under yellow weather warnings.
Flash floods have hit several regions, leaving cars submerged, homes and buildings cut off, and widespread chaos on the roads.
The Environment Agency reported dozens of flood warnings and alerts, particularly affecting Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire.
The weather woes have caused havoc not only for Barlow but for countless travellers across the UK, with many flights being delayed or cancelled due to the hazardous conditions.
The Met Office has warned that more rain, strong winds, and even “isolated brief tornadoes” could affect the South East, adding further challenges to the already difficult situation.
DAME Maggie Smith and Beverly Cross were destined to be together, but their journey towards matrimony was long and filled with obstacles.
After his death in 1998, Maggie described life without her man as “pointless”.
Beverley Cross was an accomplished English playwright and screenwriter who became Dame Maggie Smith’s second husband.
Although he was smitten with her from the moment they met, the writer had to wait over 20 years to finally wed the woman of his dreams.
Born on April 13, 1931, in London, Beverly came from a theatrical family and began his career writing children’s plays in the 1950s.
He achieved early success with his first adult play, One More River, which premiered in 1958 and dealt with a mutiny where a crew puts its first officer on trial for manslaughter.
Throughout the 1960s, Beverly’s career flourished.
He translated Marc Camoletti’s French farce Boeing Boeing in 1962, which had a lengthy run in London’s West End.
Beverly also wrote the book for the successful musical comedy Half a Sixpence, based on H.G. Wells’ novel Kipps, which opened in 1963.
Beverly became well known for writing screenplays, enjoying a career in the movie industry spanning over two decades.
He wrote the scripts for some massive films, including Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Genghis Khan (1965) and Clash of the Titans (1981).
The relationship between Beverly and Maggie began in 1952 at Oxford University.
It was love at first sight for the writer when he spotted 18-year-old Maggie, even though he was already married to someone else.
Despite marrying his Oxford classmate Elizabeth Clunies-Ross, Beverly had his heart set on Maggie.
Unable to shake the feeling that she was the one, he divorced his wife and quickly proposed to her.
The divorce took much longer than expected, so Beverley begged for Maggie to wait for him.
Despite this, their relationship took a dramatic turn when Maggie married actor Robert Stephens in 1967.
During their eight-year marriage, Maggie and Robert had two kids before calling it quits in 1975.
It seems a bit pointless. Going on one’s own and not having someone to share it with
Maggie Smith
When Maggie’s marriage to Robert ended in divorce, Beverly wasted no time at all and finally tied the knot with Maggie later the same year.
On finally getting her man, Maggie said: “I’m remarkably fortunate.
“When you meet again someone you should have married in the first place, it’s like a script.
“That kind of luck is too good to be true.”
Beverly and Maggie never had children together.
But as Maggie’s husband, Beverly became stepfather to her children from her previous marriage.
They had two sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens.
His last work for theatre was an adaptation of The Scarlet Pimpernel, which played at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in 1985.
He also wrote opera librettos for composers Richard Rodney Bennett and Nicholas Maw.
Beverley passed away on March 20, 1998, at the age of 66, due to an aneurysm.
Maggie often referred to Cross as the “rock” of her life in interviews, and his death deeply affected her.
In a 2013 interview with 60 Minutes, she said: “It seems a bit pointless. Going on one’s own and not having someone to share it with.”
On September 27, 2024, Maggie passed away.
While no official cause of death was given, she previously opened up about her health battles, including treatment for Graves’ disease in 1988.
Maggie described her experience of Graves disease and thyroid eye disease as a “fog of despair” in a newspaper interview.
In 2007, it emerged Maggie had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but she thankfully went on to make a full recovery.
Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died in hospital early this morning.
In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end.
“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”