<p>Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This helped a specialist team in proving how notes were made by early Europeans about the timing of the reproductive cycles of the animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ|</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-have-found-where-fearful-memories-live-in-our-brains-550278">Scientists have found where scary memories 'live' in our brains</a></p>

<p>Bacon stated he felt “surreal” to work on what hunter-gatherers were trying to say. Across Europe, researchers have found cave paintings of animals like fish, cattle and reindeer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, archaeologists had failed to decode the meaning of different marks on the paintings, which included dots. So, Bacon took it upon himself to decode the mystery behind marks.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
After spending long hours researching in the British Library and on the internet, he "amassed as much data as possible and began looking for repeating patterns".</p>

<p>Specifically, he looked for a 'Y' sign which was present in a few paintings, which he decoded can be a symbol for “giving birth” as it showed one line extending from the other.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As his research advanced, he took the help of senior academics and friends. He collaborated with a team which included Durham University's two professors and one professor from University College London.</p>

<p>As they worked on the birth cycles of animals present in today's world, they decoded that the hunter-gatherers were maintaining a record of the mating seasons of the animals using the markings on the cave paintings by lunar month.</p>

<p>The Cambridge Archeological Journal published the findings of the team. Durham University's Prof Paul Pettitt said that he is "glad he took it seriously" when Bacon reached out to him.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH| Do mosquitos bite you more than others? Here's why! | Science News | WION</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/do-mosquitos-bite-you-more-than-others-heres-why-science-news-wion-526721/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"The results show that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systemic calendar and marks to record information about major ecological events within that calendar,” he said.</p>

<p>"In turn, we're able to show that these people, who left a legacy of spectacular art in the caves of Lascaux (in France) and Altamira (in Spain), also left a record of early timekeeping that would eventually become commonplace among our species,” the professor said.</p>

<p>Bacon added that the ancestors were "a lot more like us than we had previously thought. These people, separated from us by many millennia, are suddenly a lot closer".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers. The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar.

Furniture conservator Ben Bacon made a crucial discovery in London which helped in understanding why cave paintings were drawn by the Ice Age hunter-gatherers. The 20,000-year-old markings present on the drawings were analysed by Bacon who concluded that they may be referring to a lunar calendar. This helped a specialist team in proving how notes were made by early Europeans about the timing of the reproductive cycles of the animals. ALSO READ| Scientists have found where scary memories 'live' in our brains Bacon stated he felt “surreal” to work on what hunter-gatherers were trying to say. Across Europe, researchers have found cave paintings of animals like fish, cattle and reindeer. However, archaeologists had failed to decode the meaning of different marks on the paintings, which included dots. So, Bacon took it upon himself to decode the mystery behind marks. After spending long hours researching in the British Library and on the internet, he "amassed as much data as possible and began looking for repeating patterns". Specifically, he looked for a 'Y' sign which was present in a few paintings, which he decoded can be a symbol for “giving birth” as it showed one line extending from the other. As his research advanced, he took the help of senior academics and friends. He collaborated with a team which included Durham University's two professors and one professor from University College London. As they worked on the birth cycles of animals present in today's world, they decoded that the hunter-gatherers were maintaining a record of the mating seasons of the animals using the markings on the cave paintings by lunar month. The Cambridge Archeological Journal published the findings of the team. Durham University's Prof Paul Pettitt said that he is "glad he took it seriously" when Bacon reached out to him. WATCH| Do mosquitos bite you more than others? Here's why! | Science News | WION "The results show that Ice Age hunter-gatherers were the first to use a systemic calendar and marks to record information about major ecological events within that calendar,” he said. "In turn, we're able to show that these people, who left a legacy of spectacular art in the caves of Lascaux (in France) and Altamira (in Spain), also left a record of early timekeeping that would eventually become commonplace among our species,” the professor said. Bacon added that the ancestors were "a lot more like us than we had previously thought. These people, separated from us by many millennia, are suddenly a lot closer". (With inputs from agencies)

Furniture conservator solves mystery of 20,000-year-old Ice Age drawings

<p>At least 10,000 children in South Africa have dropped out of school since the pandemic started, with students learning half or less than average in 2020 due to coronavirus, the education ministry said Sunday.</p>

<p>Face-to-face lessons have only partially resumed since South Africa's schools reopened in June last year, after more than two months of home-schooling to limit the spread of COVID-19.</p>

<p>Public schools have since been shut again over shorter periods -- including a delayed start to the 2021 academic year -- and most students still only physically attend class on a rotational basis to avoid crowding.</p>

<p>Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Sunday said that as a result, children in 2020 learnt between 50 and 75 percent less than the previous year's average.</p>

<p>Coronavirus interruptions have also affected attendance, with 10,000 fewer children aged between seven and 14 enrolled in school in 2021, according to a preliminary analysis by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-visits-us-air-base-to-pay-tribute-to-service-personnel-killed-in-kabul-409232"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Biden visits US air base to pay tribute to service personnel killed in Kabul</strong></a></p>

<p>Enrolment was also 25,000 lower than expected for children aged between four and six, although less concerning for secondary school students.</p>

<p>"The unprecedented closures of our schools, and the unplanned disruptions to teaching and learning, have resulted in the reversal of gains made in the last 20 years," Motshekga said at a press briefing.</p>

<p>Most learning losses were observed in poorer rural areas and townships, where internet access is limited.</p>

<p>"If children are not in contact with teachers, especially children from disadvantaged communities, learning does not happen as it should," DBE researcher Martin Gustafsson told the briefing.</p>

<p>He added that primary school children were still only in class for an average of three days a week and had already missed half of planned learning this year.</p>

<p>South Africa is the continent's worst virus-hit country, with over 2.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 81,000 deaths.</p>

<p>The nation is currently battling a persistent third infection wave that experts warn could overlap with a looming fourth.</p>


At least 10,000 children in South Africa have dropped out of school since the pandemic started, with students learning half or less than average in 2020 due to coronavirus, the education ministry said Sunday.

At least 10,000 children in South Africa have dropped out of school since the pandemic started, with students learning half or less than average in 2020 due to coronavirus, the education ministry said Sunday. Face-to-face lessons have only partially resumed since South Africa's schools reopened in June last year, after more than two months of home-schooling to limit the spread of COVID-19. Public schools have since been shut again over shorter periods -- including a delayed start to the 2021 academic year -- and most students still only physically attend class on a rotational basis to avoid crowding. Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Sunday said that as a result, children in 2020 learnt between 50 and 75 percent less than the previous year's average. Coronavirus interruptions have also affected attendance, with 10,000 fewer children aged between seven and 14 enrolled in school in 2021, according to a preliminary analysis by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). Also read | Biden visits US air base to pay tribute to service personnel killed in Kabul Enrolment was also 25,000 lower than expected for children aged between four and six, although less concerning for secondary school students. "The unprecedented closures of our schools, and the unplanned disruptions to teaching and learning, have resulted in the reversal of gains made in the last 20 years," Motshekga said at a press briefing. Most learning losses were observed in poorer rural areas and townships, where internet access is limited. "If children are not in contact with teachers, especially children from disadvantaged communities, learning does not happen as it should," DBE researcher Martin Gustafsson told the briefing. He added that primary school children were still only in class for an average of three days a week and had already missed half of planned learning this year. South Africa is the continent's worst virus-hit country, with over 2.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 81,000 deaths. The nation is currently battling a persistent third infection wave that experts warn could overlap with a looming fourth.

Virus sets South Africa schools back 20 years: Minister

More than 20,000 Russians took to the streets of Moscow on Sunday to demand the release of protesters jailed over the summer in what opponents of the Kremlin say is a campaign to stifle dissent. Watch this video to know more.

Thousands rally in Moscow to demand release of jailed protesters

<p>The United Kingdom was hit by lightning and thunderstorms on late Saturday night. The 'Mother of all thunderstorms' blasted parts of southern Britain with as many as nearly 20,000 lightning episodes ravaging parts of the United Kingdom.</p>

<p>The lightning strikes put on a dramatic display for the onlookers who posted the awe-inspiring images on social media. As per reports, torrential rain accompanied the thunderstorm creating chaos for commuters. As many s 500 weather-related calls were received by the London Fire Brigade.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And another amazing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightning</a> display from this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cumulonimbus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cumulonimbus</a> to the northwest of London seen from Ealing. (Mix of real-time and time-lapse) <a href="https://t.co/6HhJpa9q8V">pic.twitter.com/6HhJpa9q8V</a></p>
— Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Schafernaker/status/1000856614864392192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Incredible how many thunderstorms there are across Europe right now...look at this from...," tweeted leading UK-based weather presenter, Tomasz Schafernaker.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Incredible how many <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thunderstorms?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thunderstorms</a> there are across Europe right now...look at this from 5PM. <a href="https://t.co/HYjprQbTKQ">pic.twitter.com/HYjprQbTKQ</a></p>
— Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Schafernaker/status/1000783098412457984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>There were also reports of a number of properties being struck by lightning and multiple flood alerts issued across Britain. Almost 1,000 properties across the midlands suffered power outages.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here we go again...the power of Mother Nature is being unleashed! It’s going bananas ?⚡️? in The Midlands...and the atmos is so volitile actoss the southern half of you UK that it might, anywhere, go BANG! ????⚡️⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thunderstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thunderstorm</a> <a href="https://t.co/BVH2fZSY3V">pic.twitter.com/BVH2fZSY3V</a></p>
— Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Schafernaker/status/1000763296142778368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>A number of flights at London's Stansted airport were delayed, diverted and cancelled after a lightning strike affected an aircraft fueling system. Passengers are likely to bear the brunt as multiple aircraft line up to get refuelled.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thunderstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thunderstorm</a> is just skirting us here on Reigate Hill at the moment. Still a great lightning show! <a href="https://twitter.com/EUStormMap?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EUStormMap</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonSnowWatch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonSnowWatch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UKWeatherLive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UKWeatherLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/qljLcpLZDw">pic.twitter.com/qljLcpLZDw</a></p>
— JackpotRob (@robinpeyton) <a href="https://twitter.com/robinpeyton/status/1000519162647674880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Although the fuelling system was repaired on Sunday morning, passengers have been warned to check before travelling.&nbsp;</p>


There were also reports of a number of properties being struck by lightning and multiple flood alerts issues across Britain

The United Kingdom was hit by lightning and thunderstorms on late Saturday night. The 'Mother of all thunderstorms' blasted parts of southern Britain with as many as nearly 20,000 lightning episodes ravaging parts of the United Kingdom. The lightning strikes put on a dramatic display for the onlookers who posted the awe-inspiring images on social media. As per reports, torrential rain accompanied the thunderstorm creating chaos for commuters. As many s 500 weather-related calls were received by the London Fire Brigade. And another amazing #lightning display from this #Cumulonimbus to the northwest of London seen from Ealing. (Mix of real-time and time-lapse) pic.twitter.com/6HhJpa9q8V — Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) May 27, 2018 × "Incredible how many thunderstorms there are across Europe right now...look at this from...," tweeted leading UK-based weather presenter, Tomasz Schafernaker. Incredible how many #thunderstorms there are across Europe right now...look at this from 5PM. pic.twitter.com/HYjprQbTKQ — Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) May 27, 2018 × There were also reports of a number of properties being struck by lightning and multiple flood alerts issued across Britain. Almost 1,000 properties across the midlands suffered power outages. Here we go again...the power of Mother Nature is being unleashed! It’s going bananas ?⚡️? in The Midlands...and the atmos is so volitile actoss the southern half of you UK that it might, anywhere, go BANG! ????⚡️⚡️#thunderstorm pic.twitter.com/BVH2fZSY3V — Tomasz Schafernaker (@Schafernaker) May 27, 2018 × A number of flights at London's Stansted airport were delayed, diverted and cancelled after a lightning strike affected an aircraft fueling system. Passengers are likely to bear the brunt as multiple aircraft line up to get refuelled. The #thunderstorm is just skirting us here on Reigate Hill at the moment. Still a great lightning show! @EUStormMap @LondonSnowWatch @UKWeatherLive pic.twitter.com/qljLcpLZDw — JackpotRob (@robinpeyton) May 26, 2018 × Although the fuelling system was repaired on Sunday morning, passengers have been warned to check before travelling.

'Mother of all thunderstorms' leaves UK in chaos with nearly 20,000 lightning strikes overnight

An Indian teenager was among 20 foreigners who were killed after being taken hostage by a group of attackers at an upmarket cafe in Bangladesh capital Dhaka, a government minister said Saturday.<br />
<br />
Tarushi Jain, 19, was caught up in the horrific 11-hour siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery, a Western-style cafe popular with foreigners located in the diplomatic quarter of the capital.<br />
<br />
&quot;I am extremely pained to share that the terrorists have killed Tarushi, an Indian girl who was taken hostage in the terror attack in Dhaka,&quot; India&#39;s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj posted on Twitter.<br />
<br />
Swaraj said she had spoken to the girl&#39;s grief-stricken father and conveyed her condolences to him.<br />
<br />
&quot;The country is with them in this hour of grief,&quot; she tweeted.<br />
<br />
Jain had finished her schooling from the American School in Dhaka and was pursuing her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Swaraj added.<br />
<br />
WION sources say she was on vacation in Dhaka, where her father has run a garment business for the last 15-20 years. India is assisting family members travelling to Bangladesh.<br />
<br />
Sources also revealed that an Indian man, Dr Satyapal, was among the hostages rescued Saturday morning. Being fluent in Bengali, he was able to pass off as Bangladeshi and was safely released Saturday morning.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Bangladesh army said most of the slain civilians were either Italian or Japanese, and that many had been hacked to death with sharpened weapons.<br />
<br />
WION sources said that of the 20 victims, seven to 10 were Italian, and an unconfirmed number include Japanese and South Koreans. Of the people rescued Saturday morning, seven are Bangladeshi and one is an Indian, Dr Satyapal.<br />
<br />
In the hospital undergoing treatment are two Sri Lankans, a Japanese and an Italian.&nbsp;Of the terrorists, six have been killed and one was apprehended alive.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
About 10-12 Bangladeshi restaurant staff were rescued in the morning, and have been segregated by police for interrogation.<br />
<br />
?The Italian embassy is not releasing the identity of the Italian victims at least until their families reach Dhaka.<br />
<br />
But another Italian named&nbsp;Jacopo Bioni, a 34-year-old from Verona, managed to escape with an Argentinian chef named Diego Rossini. Rossini moved to Dhaka only in January, and was only working in the restaurant Friday because another Argentinian chef was on leave.<br />
<br />
Rossini told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that in the rush to flee he left his mobile phone and wallet in the restaurant, and went on to describe his harrowing escape:<br />
<br />
&quot;I was working in the kitchen when a group of Italian friends came. They are wholesalers in clothes, fabrics and garments. And they are usual customers of the restaurant.&nbsp;I went to speak with the Italian fellas sitting there. They asked for a special pasta, so I had to go to the kitchen. Then I heard people shouting and some shooting, and while I tried to get out of the kitchen I saw a young man with an automatic weapon who was walking towards the table where my Italian friends were sitting. So I ran away together with Diego and other colleagues to the opposte direction to the backdoor of the kitchen where there is an emergency stairs that goes to the roof on the second floor. Then they started shooting in our direction and they launched grenades. That was the moment when we decided to jump down from the second floor.&quot;<br />
<br />
They reached a nearby building to safety.<br />
<br />
India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the attack in a post on Twitter.<br />
<br />
&quot;The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to (Bangladesh) PM Sheikh Hasina and strongly condemned the despicable attack,&quot; the Prime Minister tweeted.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(AFP and WION)

Amid all the tragedy, an Argentinian chef describes his escape from IS attackers

An Indian teenager was among 20 foreigners who were killed after being taken hostage by a group of attackers at an upmarket cafe in Bangladesh capital Dhaka, a government minister said Saturday. Tarushi Jain, 19, was caught up in the horrific 11-hour siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery, a Western-style cafe popular with foreigners located in the diplomatic quarter of the capital. "I am extremely pained to share that the terrorists have killed Tarushi, an Indian girl who was taken hostage in the terror attack in Dhaka," India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj posted on Twitter. Swaraj said she had spoken to the girl's grief-stricken father and conveyed her condolences to him. "The country is with them in this hour of grief," she tweeted. Jain had finished her schooling from the American School in Dhaka and was pursuing her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Swaraj added. WION sources say she was on vacation in Dhaka, where her father has run a garment business for the last 15-20 years. India is assisting family members travelling to Bangladesh. Sources also revealed that an Indian man, Dr Satyapal, was among the hostages rescued Saturday morning. Being fluent in Bengali, he was able to pass off as Bangladeshi and was safely released Saturday morning. The Bangladesh army said most of the slain civilians were either Italian or Japanese, and that many had been hacked to death with sharpened weapons. WION sources said that of the 20 victims, seven to 10 were Italian, and an unconfirmed number include Japanese and South Koreans. Of the people rescued Saturday morning, seven are Bangladeshi and one is an Indian, Dr Satyapal. In the hospital undergoing treatment are two Sri Lankans, a Japanese and an Italian. Of the terrorists, six have been killed and one was apprehended alive. About 10-12 Bangladeshi restaurant staff were rescued in the morning, and have been segregated by police for interrogation. ?The Italian embassy is not releasing the identity of the Italian victims at least until their families reach Dhaka. But another Italian named Jacopo Bioni, a 34-year-old from Verona, managed to escape with an Argentinian chef named Diego Rossini. Rossini moved to Dhaka only in January, and was only working in the restaurant Friday because another Argentinian chef was on leave. Rossini told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that in the rush to flee he left his mobile phone and wallet in the restaurant, and went on to describe his harrowing escape: "I was working in the kitchen when a group of Italian friends came. They are wholesalers in clothes, fabrics and garments. And they are usual customers of the restaurant. I went to speak with the Italian fellas sitting there. They asked for a special pasta, so I had to go to the kitchen. Then I heard people shouting and some shooting, and while I tried to get out of the kitchen I saw a young man with an automatic weapon who was walking towards the table where my Italian friends were sitting. So I ran away together with Diego and other colleagues to the opposte direction to the backdoor of the kitchen where there is an emergency stairs that goes to the roof on the second floor. Then they started shooting in our direction and they launched grenades. That was the moment when we decided to jump down from the second floor." They reached a nearby building to safety. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the attack in a post on Twitter. "The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to (Bangladesh) PM Sheikh Hasina and strongly condemned the despicable attack," the Prime Minister tweeted. (AFP and WION)

Indian teenager among 20 victims in Dhaka cafe siege

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