Science News
Curated by RSF Research Staff
Detection of thermal anomalies at the Great Pyramids of Egypt
Muons, the heavy "cousin" of the electron, are apparently not only useful for high-precision measurements of the ultra-small, as in the case where they were used to reveal new values of the proton charge radius, but as well for measurements of the ultra-large -- as a technique called archeaological muography has recently been employed to scan some of the largest pyramids of Egypt.
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It is part of a comprehensive project of multiple research teams, universities, and the Antiquities Ministry of Egypt to scan some of the most impressive pyramids of Egypt. Muography detects the flux of cosmic muons (muons that "rain" onto Earth from outerspace) -- since fewer muons will be absorbed by empty spaces as compared to layers of dense stone, increases in muon flux can provide evidence of a possible "void" or hollow area in a structure. So far, the method has detected evidence for a possible second entrance and hidden corridor in the Great Pyramid of Giza (known as Cheops).
Muography is not the only scanning technique being employed, other methods include thermal imaging. Recently, it was announced that perplexing thermal anomalies have been detected in the Cheops pyramid. There are several explanations for the cause of the anomalies, but one particularly suggestive explanation is that it is do to increased air circulation cause by a hidden corridor or chamber -- corroborating similar findings using muographic analysis.
Archaeological investigations remain an important area of research for the Resonance Science Foundation, not only for the information provided about humanity's ancient past, but our future as well.