Science Showed That There Were No Black Vikings

The Vikings, originating from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, are widely known for their extensive voyages across the sea from the late 8th to the early 11th centuries. Their expeditions took them across diverse landscapes, from the remote shores of North America to the Mediterranean.

As skilled sailors, traders, and raiders, the Vikings developed an intricate network of routes. This network was more than a means for raiding distant territories; it facilitated the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas, linking them with diverse peoples and civilizations, each with its own unique traits and appearances.

The expeditions brought them into contact with many cultures, such as the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and notably, Miklagard—or Constantinople as it is known today. While in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, the Vikings engaged in both plunder and trade, but it was in Miklagard that the Vikings’ role expanded beyond that of mere traders and raiders to include mercenaries.

Despite these connections in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, there is a clear distinction between these people and the Sub-Saharan Africans. The darker skin tones were beyond the Vikings’ geographical and cultural reach during this era. And even if there were blacks sold as slaves in Miklagard, there is no evidence that the Vikings bought, hired, or befriended them to be part of their society.

Recent advancements in genetic testing, including those accessible through home gene testing kits, have revolutionized our understanding of historical populations, offering direct insights into the ethnic compositions of our ancestors.

Specifically, studies employing modern genetic testing and osteological analysis have provided crucial evidence regarding the ethnic makeup of Viking populations. Contrary to the speculative narratives of "black Vikings," these scientific inquiries have found no evidence of Sub-Saharan African ancestry among the Vikings.

This absence of Sub-Saharan African genes in Viking populations not only corroborates historical narratives and linguistic analyses but also challenges modern misconceptions about the racial diversity of these ancient societies.

The integration of home gene testing technologies into the public domain has given people widespread access to genetic information, allowing individuals to explore their own ancestral backgrounds and contributing to a broader understanding of our collective past.

Exploring our genetic roots really shows the difference between what’s often believed and what science actually tells us. It proves how crucial it is to rely on real evidence when we talk about history.

Despite the widespread fascination with Vikings and their extensive voyages, archaeological evidence has yet to substantiate the presence of Sub-Saharan Africans within Norse societies during the Viking Age. Excavations of Viking burial sites, settlements, and places of gathering across Scandinavia and their known areas of activity have provided invaluable insights into the lives, cultures, and movements of these peoples. These findings include a wealth of artifacts such as weapons, jewelry, ships, and tools that reflect the aesthetic values, technological capabilities, and social structures of Viking societies.

Notably, the analysis of these materials has not revealed artifacts that can be directly linked to Sub-Saharan African origins or influences. Unlike in the Mediterranean, where archaeological finds sometimes reflect a confluence of cultures due to trade and conquest, Viking artifacts maintain a distinct Norse character without indications of African integration.

The evidence clearly shows that the myth of black Vikings does not match with the findings from history, archaeology, or genetics, showing that such ideas are newer interpretations with no backing from historical documents. The assertion that Vikings were black is often brought up to push current agendas, aiming to undermine the accomplishments of Nordic cultures.

However, it is critical to base our understanding of Viking society on accurate historical and scientific findings to ensure that our view of the Viking Age is grounded in reality. The Vikings were not black, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

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Scientists Surprised By Results of Experiment on Ultrahot Plasma

A team of U.S. scientists has made a surprising discovery that could help bring fusion energy, a long-hoped-for clean energy source, closer to reality.

In a recent experiment at the University of Rochester, researchers were stunned to find that heat in an ultrahot plasma didn't flow between materials the way they thought it would. At a scorching 180,000 degrees, heat seemed to get stuck between tungsten metal and a plastic coating, leaving that material surprisingly cool, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

"When we looked at the data, we were totally shocked because the heat was not flowing between these materials," said physicist Thomas White, who led the project alongside his former student, Cameron Allen.

The pair had set out to test heat transfer in materials subjected to ultrahigh temperatures but instead uncovered a new mystery.

This marks the first time scientists have directly observed this type of heat blockage in what's called high-energy-density plasma, the kind of matter found inside stars and advanced fusion reactors.

The culprit is interfacial thermal resistance, which acts like a wall that reflects electrons carrying heat instead of letting them pass through. In easier terms, it's like trying to pass a hot potato through a windowpane, and the energy just bounces back.

Understanding that quirky behavior could help scientists design smarter systems that better manage extreme heat.

Fusion energy, the same process that powers the sun, involves fusing atoms to release energy. If we can master it here on Earth, it could offer nearly limitless power without the dirty energy that comes from burning gas, coal, or oil. That would mean cleaner air, fewer health risks, and the potential for lower utility bills, especially in cities and communities where energy costs hit the hardest.

This discovery could ripple into how we design hypersonic aircraft, develop advanced medical devices, and make computer chips more efficient. It could improve everyday tech, health care, and even transportation systems.

"High-energy laser labs provide an essential tool," Jeremiah Williams from the National Science Foundation said, per Interesting Engineering.

According to the Rochester team, this unexpected heat behavior could help researchers build better, more cost-effective solutions for clean energy and beyond. Fusion's potential also supports the global shift toward diversifying clean energy.

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A Less Expensive Solar Panel With One Major Drawback

A team of engineers at Cornell University may have just cracked one of solar energy's toughest challenges: making affordable solar panels that can stand up to heat, moisture, and long-term sunlight without breaking down.

Their innovation centers on perovskite, a flexible, crystal-like material that absorbs sunlight exceptionally well. Compared to traditional silicon panels, perovskite is easier and less expensive to manufacture.

But there's been one big drawback, per Tech Xplore: They degrade quickly under heat, moisture, or prolonged sunlight exposure.

That's where Cornell's breakthrough stands out. Researchers developed a solar cell structure that sandwiches a protective 2D perovskite layer over a 3D one, forming a weather-resistant shell.

They used a more stable molecule called formamidinium in the outer layer, which holds up far better than previous materials. To make it work, the engineers relied on lattice matching, a method of aligning the molecular structures of both layers to ensure a snug fit.

The result was a solar panel that survived 50 days of high heat and intense light and retained 95 percent of its performance, per Tech Xplore.

Even better, the panel achieved a 25.3 percent conversion efficiency rate, rivaling some of the most advanced solar tech on the market while keeping costs low.

The research, published in the journal Joule, builds on years of work to overcome the durability issues of perovskite solar cells.

According to Tech Xplore, previous attempts to stabilize these materials often failed because of poor structural compatibility. By focusing on molecular harmony, the Cornell team may have found the key to unlocking real-world use.

"This was really inspiring for me — not just the scientific aspect, but also the technological relevance," said Shripathi Ramakrishnan, the study's lead author and a doctoral candidate at Cornell, per Tech Xplore.

For homeowners, this breakthrough could lead to solar panels that last longer, require fewer repairs, and withstand extreme weather, all of which could translate to significant savings on utility bills.

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Waters Below Offshore Wind Farms Is Teeming With Wildlife

New research indicates that offshore wind farms may be a suitable habitat for ocean wildlife, according to a study published by Phys.org.

Seawater samples collected by scientists from Wageningen University & Research near four wind farms in the Dutch North Sea showed signs of multiple shark and ray species: thornback rays, basking sharks, spotted rays, starry smooth-hounds, and blonde rays.

A contributing factor to the abundance of fauna at wind farms may be the local ban on trawling. These are in place because trawling would damage undersea cables connected to the wind farms. The ban has the added benefit of leaving sea floor ecosystems undisturbed and ripe for natural predation.

Researchers were particularly excited by being able to gauge animal populations solely through DNA traces found in the water. This eliminated the need to spot live specimens or engage in more invasive tracking.

As a part of a larger project, the group is continuing to study the effects of undersea power cables on wildlife and whether their electromagnetic fields affect animal navigation skills.

Wind power is a key energy source for a more sustainable future. It can help displace reliance on coal and gas power, which produce significant atmospheric pollution.

That pollution can heat and acidify oceans, causing damage to ecosystems, and can accelerate the melting of polar ice caps, which raises sea levels. The extra heat in the atmosphere also exacerbates destructive weather patterns.

Being able to support biodiversity alongside green energy is a great bonus.

A major project in the U.S. aims to similarly protect animal habitat and provide space for large-scale wind power. However, the researchers were highly tentative about whether their work proved anything conclusive about wildlife at wind farms.

"We're trying to understand whether these animals are actually using the wind farms as habitat, or whether they're being displaced by them," said lead author Annemiek Hermans.

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Hidden Leaks In Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells are often called the clean energy solution of tomorrow — powering everything from cars to homes with just hydrogen and oxygen while leaving behind only water.

However, a new study has revealed a surprising flaw that could be slowing down that future: a hidden energy leak that kicks in when things heat up.

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) took a closer look at a popular fuel cell material called barium zirconate. It's commonly used in high-temperature fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity with little to no pollution. These types of fuel cells are exciting because they can outperform traditional gas-powered engines — but only if they run efficiently.

Here's the catch: The scientists found that when the fuel cells heat up past 600 Kelvin (about 620 degrees Fahrenheit), they start leaking energy. And not just a little. Their simulations showed that high temperatures cause tiny vibrations inside the material's atomic structure — and those vibrations push electrons out of place.

When electrons wander off, they leave behind "holes," which act like little energy drains inside the system.

In fact, when the team accounted for these temperature effects, it found four times as many of these energy-wasting holes compared to what traditional models predicted. "Traditionally, models don't fully account for temperature-induced vibrations," said Shenli Zhang, LLNL physicist and first author of the study. "But our calculations show that this effect is far from negligible."

This breakthrough, published in the PRX Energy journal, helps explain why fuel cells don't always live up to their full potential. But more importantly, it offers a roadmap for how to fix it.

The researchers created a new simulation protocol that lets them calculate exactly how much energy is lost at different temperatures — and which materials might hold up better. That could be a game-changer as we race to build cleaner, more affordable energy systems. Hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to replace dirtier technologies in transportation, power generation, and even home energy systems.

But every bit of lost energy means more cost, more fuel used, and less efficiency overall. Plugging these leaks could lead to better-performing fuel cells that save money and reduce pollution at the same time.

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Turkmenistan Reduces Fire Of "Gateway To Hell"

Turkmenistan authorities reported on 4 June that it had significantly reduced a gas fire that has been raging for half a century at a site dubbed the "Gateway to Hell".

The fire has been burning in the Karakum desert since 1971, when Soviet scientists accidentally drilled into an underground pocket of gas and then decided to ignite it.

The blaze has been spewing out massive quantities of methane, a gas that contributes to climate change, ever since.

Officials said the fire - which has become the reclusive country's top tourist attraction - had been reduced three-fold, without specifying the time frame.

"Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometres away, hence the name 'Gateway to Hell', today only a faint source of combustion remains," said Irina Luryeva, a director at state-owned energy company Turkmengaz.

Numerous wells have been drilled around the fire to capture methane, she said at an environmental conference in the capital Ashgabat.

Turkmenistan -- one of the world's most closed countries -- is estimated to have the world's fourth largest gas reserves.

It is the world's biggest emitter of methane through gas leaks, according to the International Energy Agency -- a claim denied by the authorities.

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Is This The Calm Before The Storm?

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) was monitoring a tropical wave in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean almost two weeks before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. It never became organized enough to worry about, but despite a quiet May, indications are that this could be an active hurricane season.

There were no named storms in the Northern Hemisphere through the middle of May this year. Over the past 75 Atlantic hurricane seasons, there have only been five other years that did not produce a named storm through May 15. That doesn't mean we can let our guard down, as most forecasters are predicting an active hurricane season for 2025. Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting above-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. There is a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10percent chance of a below-normal season, according to the NOAA. Colorado State University has issued a similar forecast, calling for 17 named storms compared to the average of 14.4 during the period from 1991 to 2020.

A NHC tropical weather outlook noted the wave that developed in the middle of May. The product is posted on the NHC's website to help identify and monitor potential systems that could intensify.

"The tropical weather outlook provides forecasts on areas of disturbed weather that could develop into tropical cyclones," said Larry Kelly, a hurricane specialist with the NHC, per the News-Press.

"It highlights the location, movement, and development potential of these systems over the next two to seven days. This information is important for early preparation and awareness during hurricane season so you can be prepared for the hazards that systems can bring, including storm surge, flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and hazardous marine and beach conditions."

Any hurricanes that develop this season have the potential to be supercharged by our overheating planet. Hurricane Helene, the most deadly hurricane to strike the United States since Katrina in 2005, got an energy boost from superheated oceans last year. The unusually warm seas that spawned this historic hurricane were 200 times more likely because of our warming world.

Melting glaciers and ice sheets are raising sea levels. Rising sea levels have compelled coastal communities to restore sand dunes and beaches as a natural defense against storm surges. Higher seas mean more destructive storms as storm surges penetrate farther inland along coastlines.

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