Science, Space and Technology News 2024
Researchers reconstructed Emperor Wu’s face using DNA from his remains, revealing typical East Asian features. The study suggests he died of a stroke at 36 and highlights Xianbei and Han Chinese intermarriage. Future research will focus on ancient Chang’an city. Credit: Pianpian Weifrom his remains, revealing his typical East Asian features and suggesting his premature death at 36 may have been due to a stroke.
Emperor Wu was a ruler of the Northern Zhou dynasty in ancient China. Under his reign from AD 560 to AD 578, Emperor Wu built a strong military and unified the northern part of ancient China after defeating the Northern Qi dynasty. “Some scholars said the Xianbei had ‘exotic’ looks, such as thick beard, high nose bridge, and yellow hair,” says Shaoqing Wen, one of the paper’s corresponding authors at Fudan University in Shanghai. “Our analysis shows Emperor Wu had typical East or Northeast Asian facial characteristics,” he adds.In 1996, archaeologists discovered Emperor Wu’s tomb in northwestern China, where they found his bones, including a nearly complete skull.
Emperor Wu died at the age of 36, and his son also died at a young age with no clear reason. Some archaeologists say Emperor Wu died of illness, while others argue the emperor was poisoned by his rivals. By analyzing Emperor Wu’s DNA, researchers found that the emperor was at an increased risk for stroke, which might have contributed to his death.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DNA analysis spanning 9 generations of people reveals marriage practices of mysterious warrior cultureKristina Killgrove is an archaeologist with specialties in ancient human skeletons and science communication. Her academic research has appeared in numerous scientific journals, while her news stories and essays have been published in venues such as Forbes, Mental Floss and Smithsonian.
Read more »
DNA analysis reveals that Jamestown Colony residents ate dogs with Indigenous ancestryDogs with Indigenous ancestry were eaten during a period of starvation at Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America in the 17th century, according to new research in American Antiquity.
Read more »
Sex and marriage patterns in an ancient empire revealed by DNAAncient DNA reveals new details about the Avars, warriors who built an empire that ruled Central and Eastern Europe for 250 years from the mid-sixth century.
Read more »
Ancient DNA Unveils Family Secrets of a Lost Nomadic Culture in EuropeThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
Ancient DNA pulls back curtain on mysterious empireThis week, an analysis of ancient DNA sheds light on a bygone empire, Voyager 1 is back in touch with NASA, what to do now that the cicadas are here, and more.
Read more »
Ancient DNA Decoded: Tracing Neurodegenerative Diseases to Prehistoric HerdersScience, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »