Expanding the history of ideas into prehistory through cognitive archaeology

The authors explore the definition of a "prehistory of ideas", and both its similarities and differences in comparison to the history of ideas. They propose the word-andconcept, "ethics", in prehistory, explain the timing of its evolution, and then take it into historical time in the Levant, using Biblical references. They propose that new findings from cognitive science, neuroscience, and genomics may allow the eventual crossing of the prehistory/history borderline in tracing a time sequence for ideas

Wrath, mercy, pestilence, and plague : how the wisdom of the ancients offers courage in pandemic

The authors explore the meanings and contexts for "plague" and "pestilence" in biblical documents and other Circum-Mediterranean traditions. The ferocious, ominous images foretelling the "end of times" in the book of Revelation explain some of the current malaise in reaction to Covid-19. The term "pandemic" denotes undercurrents from the histories of all these words, and together, they help to make sense of contemporary changes in religion and culture. The cognitive perception of time changes, and words take on an intense urgency. A practical solution is found in Paul's advice to the early Christians, which is buried inconspicuously in the New Testament

Visions of a Martian Future

As we look beyond our terrestrial boundary to a multi-planetary future for humankind, it becomes paramount to anticipate the challenges of various human factors on the most likely scenario for this future: permanent human settlement of Mars. Even if technical hurdles are circumvented to provide adequate resources for basic physiological and psychological needs, Homo sapiens will not survive on an alien planet if a dysfunctional psyche prohibits the utilization of these resources. No matter how far we soar into the stars, our psychologies for future generations will be forever tethered to the totality of our surroundings. By shaping our environment toward survival and welfare during the voyage to Mars and in a Martian colony, we indirectly shape our psyches and prepare them for a mission of unprecedented alienation and duration. Once on Mars, human factors such as leadership structure, social organization and code of conduct, group size, gender balance, developmental cycle, mobility, length of stay and the ecological settings and type and manner of subsistence, will create a novel Martian culture. The degree that settlers are severed from the Earth will affect how radically foreign this culture will be when compared with cultures on Earth

The Discovery of lambda Bootis Stars -- The Southern Survey II

The $\lambda$ Boo stars are chemically peculiar A-type stars whose abundance anomalies are associated with the accretion of metal-poor material. We searched for $\lambda$ Boo stars in the southern hemisphere in a targeted spectroscopic survey of metal-weak and emission-line stars. Obtaining spectra for 308 stars and classifying them on the MK system, we found or co-discovered 24 new $\lambda$ Boo stars. We also revised the classifications of 11 known $\lambda$ Boo stars, one of which turned out to be a chemically normal rapid rotator. We show that stars previously classified in the literature as blue horizontal branch stars or emission-line A stars have a high probability of being $\lambda$ Boo stars, although this conclusion is based on small-number statistics. Using WISE infrared fluxes, we searched our targets for infrared excesses that might be attributable to protoplanetary or debris discs as the source of the accreted material. Of the 34 $\lambda$ Boo stars in our sample, 21 at various main-sequence ages have infrared excesses, confirming that not all $\lambda$ Boo stars are young.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Figures do not have heavy reliance on colour. Online data will be hosted with the journal / Vizier@CD

MG1-688432: A Peculiar Variable System

The short period variable star MG1-688432 has been discovered to exhibit occasional extremely high energy optical outbursts as high as 10^31 joules. Outbursts are typically of several hours duration. These events are often highly structured, resembling sequential associated releases of energy. Twenty years of time sequence photometry is presented, indicating a basic sinusoidal light curve of mean period 6.65d, with some phase shifting and long-term temporal trends in amplitude and mean brightness. Spectroscopy reveals a peculiar star, best resembling a K3 subgiant that has evolved off the main sequence moderately red-ward of the giant branch. Spectroscopic and radial velocity analyses indicate a binary system orbiting its barycenter with an unseen companion to the K3IV primary. This is not an eclipsing system with the inclination of the orbit precluding eclipse by the secondary. The system is at a distance of 1.5kpc and analysis of GAIA observations leads to the conclusion that the HR diagram position of MG1-688432 is established by an intrinsic feature of the system, most likely either the stellar evolutionary state of the observed star or the presence of small (non-gray) dust within the system. Two mechanisms that might give rise to the system are 1) impacts with tidally disrupted planetary debris, and 2) magnetically induced chromospheric activity. An intriguing idea that requires further investigation suggests that the unseen companion is perhaps a white dwarf star which has encountered a planet and tidally shredded it to produce a debris and dust veil that modulates the brightness of the primary.Comment: 74 pages, 36 figures, submitted to Astrophysical Journal Supplemen

The Asiago-ESO/RASS QSO Survey II. The Southern Sample

This is the second paper of a series describing the Asiago-ESO/RASS QSO survey, a project aimed at the construction of an all-sky statistically well-defined sample of very bright QSOs (B_J 30^{\circ}). The area covered by the survey is 5660 sq. deg. Spectroscopy for the 137 still unidentified objects has been obtained. The total number of AGN turns out to be 111, 63 of which are new identifications. The properties of the selection are discussed. The completeness and the success rate for this survey at the final stage are 63% and 46%, respectively

TU Tau B: The Peculiar 'Eclipse' of a possible proto-Barium Giant

TU Tau (= HD 38218 = HIP 27135) is a binary system consisting of a C-N carbon star primary and an A-type secondary. We report on new photometry and spectroscopy which tracked the recent disappearance of the A-star secondary. The dimming of the A-star was gradual and irregular, with one or more brief brightenings, implying the presence of nonhomogeneities in the carbon star outflow. We also present evidence that the A-star is actively accreting s-process enriched material from the carbon star and suggest that it will therefore eventually evolve into a Barium giant. This is an important system as well because the A-type star can serve as a probe of the outer atmosphere of the carbon star.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables, a number of amateur observatories made significant contributions to this research. Paper accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Will organized religion survive an encounter with extraterrestrials?

Será que as Religiões institucionalizadas poderão sobreviver aos encontros com Extraterrestres (ET)? Se começarmos por esta questão tipica dos jornalistas e divulgadores, será no minimo um choque de valores que nos ajudará a compreender até que ponto a nossa cultura é antropocêntrica. Um breve percurso para relembrar as capacidades produtivas de vida no vasto cosmos perspectiva o que pode ser comum para os ET e para nós quando apreciamos o trabalho artistico de Deus, quer seja relativamente ao universo físico ou à vida inteligente, parece ser parte da chave para qualquer “sobrevivência”