One Israeli citizen unhappy with the recent Iran deal said the U.S. might need to experience an event in which many Americans die before retracting his statement. Israeli defense researcher Beni Sabti

[View Article at Source]The Prism of Americas Education with Host Karen Schoen Technology is not stagnant. It is constantly evolving, and sadly, cybercrime is escalating as well. The more information

The causes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are poorly understood, but now, scientists have pinpointed a runaway immune response that may underlie the condition in some patients.IBD, which is characterized by chronic inflammation in all or part of the digestive tract, affects millions of people worldwide. Its principal forms are Crohn's disease, which can occur at any point of the gastrointestinal tract, and ulcerative colitis, which affects only the colon and rectum. While IBD patients may experience similar inflammation, the underlying cause may be different. Understanding those differences could potentially unlock new, targeted angles for treatment, researchers concluded in the new study."Identifying these patients early could eventually allow clinicians to move more quickly toward therapies that address the specific mechanism of disease rather than relying on a trial-and-error sequence of medications," Dr. Brad Pasternak, medical director of the IBD Clinic at Phoenix Children's Hospital, who was not involved in the work, told Live Science in an email.A potential subtype of IBDThe genetics of IBD are complex, with past studies linking the condition to 300 "hotspots" throughout the genome. The strongest known genetic risk factor for ulcerative colitis is a gene variant called HLA-DRB1*01:03, but how this variant contributes to IBD has been unclear. The new study, published June 10 in The New England Journal of Medicine, helps connect the dots.A major clue had emerged in previous research by the same team, which tested the blood of two children with IBD. The kids had autoantibodies immune proteins that target the body itself rather than germs that were neutralizing a key anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-10 (IL-10). IL-10 normally works by inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory proteins, so patients whose bodies block IL-10 are effectively releasing a brake that should be holding off inflammation, Pasternak said.The researchers suspected that these autoantibodies could be one factor causing IBD. In their latest study, they sought to find out whether more IBD patients had the same autoantibodies.The study included data from over 4,900 people with IBD and over 1,000 without the condition. Using two separate lab tests, the researchers analyzed blood samples from both groups, finding the autoantibody in 173 of the IBD patients, or about 3.5%. The autoantibody was virtually absent from the blood of the comparison group.Then, in lab experiments, the team exposed immune cells to blood from the IBD patients who carried the autoantibody. This lowered the amount of IL-10 while triggering a pro-inflammatory response.Study co-author Dr. Holm Uhlig, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Oxford, told Live Science that identifying what drives the formation of the autoantibodies will be "a question of intense interest." For now, though, their data suggests that patients carrying HLA-DRB1*01:03 are far more likely to have autoantibodies blocking IL-10 than those without the variant.Historically, the variant has been associated with severe IBD that can require major surgery to treat. "Currently, autoimmune responses are not at all part of the therapeutic repertoire, and that's why we feel it's a relevant study," Uhlig said.Related storiesDNA-damaging gut bacteria may fuel colon cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel diseaseMaster regulator of inflammation found and it's in the brain stemScientists unveil 'atlas' of the gut microbiomeUhlig also noted that the subgroup of 3.5% of patients they identified is a "significant number," given the large overall number of IBD patients worldwide.In general, many IBD patients are currently treated with therapies that broadly suppress inflammatory pathways, Pasternak said, but not everyone responds to treatment. This study points to a potential way to someday tailor treatments to the mechanism driving specific patients' diseases, he said. Aside from offering personalized treatments for IBD patients, Uhlig said their findings may improve diagnoses. "Patients could undergo genetic testing already in the early stage of their disease diagnosis," he said, "and then it would determine their susceptibility to develop autoantibodies."This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Elke Fuchs/Heidelberg UniversityThe curse tablet found in Heerlen is a rare find because it uses Ancient Greek, rather than Latin.In the days of ancient Rome, there was never any shortage of everyday conflicts, some of them similar to those we all experience today. Perhaps a neighbor takes you to court, claiming you owe them money. Perhaps someone else has begun courting your one true love. Or maybe in an example that is of course specific to ancient Rome a certain gladiator is scheduled to face you in the arena.However, some 2,000 years ago, if you found yourself in one of these situations and wanted the gods to smite your enemy, you could always ask them for help by creating a curse tablet. Youd carve your vengeful wish into a piece of stone and hope that the gods would help you by hurting your rival. These magical tablets, known as defixiones in Latin or katadesmoi in Greek, were simply a part of life across the Roman Empire.One such ancient tablet, dated to the second century C.E., was discovered by archaeologists in the city of Heerlen, Netherlands, which was the former site of the Roman military settlement Coriovallum. And unlike other such tablets that have been unearthed by archaeologists, this relic is a rare find because it was inscribed in Ancient Greek rather than Latin.The Discovery Of A Second-Century Curse Tablet With Rare Egyptian-Style EngravingsArchaeologists discovered the tablet in a pit beneath the town hall square in Heerlen. This sort of burial is common, as these tablets were generally engraved with spells and then placed underground at sites that had local importance or alleged supernatural power.This tablet measured about four inches by two inches and was made from lead, which has often been the case with Roman-era curse artifacts found in northern Europe.Heidelberg Universitys Institute for Papyrology analyzed the tablets engravings, which had become faint over time, and discovered three groups of characters inscribed onto the artifact. The team used reflectance transformation imaging (RTI), which involves digitally combining photos of the artifact taken with different lighting to reveal even the smallest of surface features.Wikimedia CommonsThe Roman baths of Coriovallum, the most famous ancient discovery made at the ruins of this former military settlement.Archaeologists determined that one of these sections contains inscriptions of Egyptian-style invocations to deities and demons, written in Ancient Greek. This is a rare find, as the artifacts discovered in northern Europe are usually inscribed with Latin and follow Roman traditions.Researchers also discovered three magical symbols known as Characteres, which were likely used as a way to communicate the intended curse to the supernatural entities invoked in the other inscriptions. Below the symbols, researchers found the names of two men and two women who are referred to in the engraving as fellow slaves.These names were also a rare find, as the men had Latin names and the women had Greek names.It cannot be ruled out that one of the two women was the author of the inscription and had brought the supposed ability to communicate with divine powers through such curses with her from Roman Egypt, Dr. Julia Lougovaya, a research associate at Heidelberg Universitys Institute for Papyrology, said in a statement.What The Curse Tablet Found In Heerlen Reveals About Magical Practices In The Roman EmpireService Archologie Orlans (SAVO)A Roman-era curse tablet found in France.While the exact nature of the curse intended by the tablets creator cannot be determined, the team said that curses on ancient tablets were commonly cast upon romantic, athletic, or legal rivals.The tablet served either as a curse against these four slaves or as a curse in their name against an unnamed person, Dr. Rodney Ast, the academic director at the Institute for Papyrology, said in a statement.Heerlen, as a former Roman military outpost, is an important archaeological site for discovering how people lived in the outer stretches of the Roman Empire. Previously, archaeologists found a 2,000-year-old tomb of a Roman soldier named Flaccus in Heerlen, as well as a piece of limestone used as a board game.Jutta Stroszeck/German Archaeological InstituteOne of 30 ancient curse tablets found in an ancient Greek well.Whether found in Heerlen or hundreds of miles away, ancient curse tablets have been uncovered across Europe. Several years ago, 30 ancient curse tablets were found in a 38-foot, 2,500-year-old well in Kerameikos, an ancient Greek excavation site. In 2022, 21 curse tablets were found at a Roman necropolis in France, all of them dating back to between the first and third centuries C.E.In the new discovery made in Heerlen, however, the ancient curse tablet is unusual for its Egyptian-style invocations of deities and its use of Ancient Greek text. These Egyptian influences on ancient Roman tablets could open up more pathways for researchers trying to understand the role that magic played in ancient civilizations throughout the Mediterranean.In ancient Egypt, some magical practices related to protection and healing were a normal and recognized part of religious life, while other practices that benefitted oneself at the expense of others were done in secret. These more clandestine magical practices were likely adopted in the Roman Empire in the form of curses engraved on tablets and surreptitiously hidden underground.In the early centuries A.D., Near Eastern, Egyptian, Jewish, and sometimes even Christian traditions increasingly merged and spread throughout the entire Roman Empire of that time a development that the discovery from Heerlen impressively underscores, said Dr. Joachim Quack, the director of Heidelberg Universitys Institute for Egyptology.After reading about the rare ancient curse tablet found in the Netherlands, see the ancient Greek jar used to curse 55 people. Then, learn about the ancient Roman magic used to speak to the dead.The post Archaeologists In The Netherlands Found A 1,900-Year-Old Roman Tablet Asking The Gods To Deliver A Vengeful Curse appeared first on All That's Interesting.

As a life-long Sonic the Hedgehog fan, there are three things that are important to understanding the series. The characters, the platforming and the adventure that can be found in-between. As an international traveler, games like Pico Park are perfect for hanging out with my long-distance friends, getting to enjoy overcoming obstacles while spending time together. These "obstacles" include the moments when we decide to mess around and get in each other's way naturally.

You've heard of cult classic games, but Join Us is shaping up to be a classic cult game. As in, this game might set a new standard for survival games with sandbox and crafting elements. There's so much happening in Join Us that it's difficult to figure out where to begin explaining it, and since it's not set to be released until March 2027, the content has the potential to grow even more wild between now and then.

The iPod revolutionized how we think of MP3 players, but it was far from being the first MP3 player on the market when it launched.

While the PlayStation 5 comes with ample storage space, modern AAA titles can quickly eat it up. Here's how to effectively reclaim storage on your PS5.

In this articleWinnerRunner-Up3rd PlaceEnter Your CatView 3More +Less -Welcome to our Catster Weekly Photo Contest, where every other Monday we pick the best three photos from our readers, based on that weeks topic.This weeks topic wasCardboard Lovers, and we received some amazing photos from you. And although every cat is gorgeous, we had to pick our winners. Congratulations, and thanks to everyone who submitted their cats to our photo contest!Next topic is: The Perfect Loaf. Do you want to have a chance to get your cat featured on Catster, our Facebook and Instagram?Send us your photos!The next winner will be announced on the 6th of July!Name:Brick and TunaName:RasputineIG:@RasputinethecatFun Fact:Rasputine loves cardboard boxes, no matter what size! If its small like this one he will use all of his shrinking skills to fit! This is a very small box fora a not so small anymore cat. He still 5hinks he is tiny Name:FeetIG:@BaxterBCatFun Fact:Feet loves to chew on boxes. He was a stray that chose to join the kitty crew. He curled around my legs outside one day. I let him in. He walked through my house, jumped on the bed, and curled into a ball. He has loved boxes since he joined us. We love our cuddly boy, who has 6 toes in each foot!Enter Your CatWant to see your cat featured as our photo contest winner? The next topic is:The Perfect Loaf Submit Your CatWe are looking forward to seeing your best photos! The next winner will be announced on the 6th of July!This article is a part of our Bi-Weekly Photo Contest View our previous weeks winners here: June 8, 2026 Most Adorable Kitten Click here to view our full list of past winners Did you know our newsletter features the latest photo contest winners? Sign up below and get the contest sent straight to your inbox

A new law is under fire for allegedly making it easier for doctors to let disabled patients kill themselves. A physician, two disabled patients, and multiple advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against Illinois