Tech

Scientists identify mystery liquid in Egyptian stone coffins

The unsettling red liquid pooled around three decomposed mummies found inside a 2000-year-old burial chamber in the historic port city of Alexandria in Egypt has taken on a life of its own

Published

6 years ago

July 23, 2018

Africa News Watch

The unsettling red liquid pooled around three decomposed mummies found inside a 2000-year-old burial chamber in the historic port city of Alexandria in Egypt has taken on a life of its own.

Horrifying images of a trio of skeletons floating in the murky soup led to rumours the “mummy juice” contained medicinal or supernatural properties, with locals anxious to bottle the stuff.

Others feared its odd colouring signified the presence of a metal such as mercury.

The large, black granite sarcophagus was unearthed in the Sidi Gaber district earlier this month and cracked open despite fears that doing so would unleash an ancient curse.

The General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Moustafa Waziri dismissed early speculation the tomb could contain the remains of Alexander the Great, saying instead it may have belonged to a priest.

However, the discovery of possible arrow damage to one of the skulls means the bones probably belonged to military officials, according to a statement released by Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities yesterday.

The skeletons, immersed in red liquid, were found inside a black granite sarcophagus unearthed in the Sidi Gaber district of Alexandria, Egypt this month.

One of the three skulls was found to have been damaged by what archaeologists believe was an arrow.

Authorities also revealed the liquid was neither “juice for mummies that contains an elixir of life” nor “red mercury” but something far more pedestrian — sewage water.

But the ugly — or in this case — smelly truth has failed to scare off the believers, even inspiring an online campaign.
A change.org petition entitled “let the people drink the red liquid from the dark sarcophagus” has attracted more than 16,000 signatures.

“We need to drink the red liquid from the cursed dark sarcophagus in the form of some sort of carbonated energy drink so we can assume its powers and finally die,” petition founder Innes McKendrick wrote by way of explanation.

Workmen found the black granite tomb five metres underground during construction of an apartment building in the historic Mediterranean port city.

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Tech

7th Africa Tech Summit set to hold in Nairobi in February

Published

12 hours ago

December 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

All is set for the seventh edition of Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, powered for the second consecutive year by Nigerian fintech, Raenest.

According to the organizers, the Summit which will take place on February 12-13, 2025, at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, will connect over 2,000 industry leaders, corporates, investors and international delegations, with a special feature on a B2B summit, exhibition, and awards.

A statement announcing the upcoming Summit say it will feature four key track themes – Africa Money & DeFi Summit, Africa Climate Tech & Investment Summit, Africa Startup Summit, and the Africa Mobile & App Summit.

“The Africa Tech Summit will deliver a packed agenda of fireside chats, panel discussions, keynote addresses, and masterclass sessions, creating a platform for knowledge sharing and networking,” Andrew Fassnidge, founder of Africa Tech Summit, said in the statement.

“We’re delighted to welcome Raenest back as our headline partner for the seventh edition of ATS Nairobi.

“Our mission has always been to help ventures across the continent and beyond connect and scale, and Raenest’s commitment to empowering African businesses to manage global financial operations aligns perfectly with this,” said Fassnidge.

Tech

Huawei launches cloud service in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Global technology company, Huawei, has launched its first African hyperscale local cloud service in Nigeria, making it the first international cloud provider to offer such services in the country.

The CEO of Huawei Nigeria, Chris Lu, who unveiled the new local cloud in Lagos on Wednesday, said it was powered by Tier 3+ data centres, providing ultra-fast services with a latency of just 15 milliseconds.

According to Lu, this will ensure that data storage and computing resources remain within Nigeria, benefiting local businesses and sectors, particularly fintech companies that require strict adherence to data protection laws.

At the launch event, themed “Leap Now With A Better Cloud,” Lu emphasised the company’s dedication to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.

He noted that the initiative was a significant milestone towards meeting the country’s data protection regulation, and alignment with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission’s objectives to limit cross-border data transfer and have data kept within the country.

“With disruptive technology, we can transform our daily lives, our industries, and our economy. Not knowing where your data is stored is terrifying,” Lu said.

“The Huawei local cloud ensures your data and that of your customers are safely protected. Our local cloud provides better latency, better services, and ensures data sovereignty for our customers.

“Huawei’s is offering enhanced data sovereignty, reduced latency, and bolstered support for local businesses.The service aims to support Nigerian startups, SMEs, and the broader tech ecosystem and aligns with Nigeria’s regulatory environment and digital transformation goals.”

Beyond cloud technology, Huawei has invested heavily in Africa’s tech ecosystem, forming partnerships with governments and private entities to drive digital transformation.