AI to better understand ancient Mesopotamia: AI software is being used to translate large numbers of tablets of cuneiform text that contain data and information on the “the political, social, economic, and scientific history” of Mesopotamia, according to an article (pdf) published in Oxford University’s PNAS Nexus Journal. This method uses natural language processing (NLP) which is the capacity of a software to interpret language as it is spoken and written. Google is in on it, too, with Fabricius — a project that enables users to translate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs into English.

Translating ancient languages isn’t easy: AI isn’t always the most useful in areas of study with limited material to begin with, one of the report’s co-authors, Gai Gutherz, said in an interview. Also, within those restrictions, information is often missing as ancient tablets may be broken or preserved poorly, in turn, making the text harder to read or contextualize.

AI is also being used to process aerial images to discover important archaeological sites, new research (pdf) in the Journal of Archaeological Science explains. Case in point: By using deep learning (DL) methods, archeologists were able to discover geoglyphs in Peru: Large-scale designs that were created by clearing away sand or stones, and occasionally by adding new stones to create shapes or figures for religious purposes.

Skyrocketing global temperatures this year are placing 2023 on track to rival 2016 for the undesirable superlative of the hottest year on record, CNN reports. The earth hit a peak global temperature of 17.23°C last week — that’s 0.31°C higher than the previous hottest daily temperature average reached during August 2016.

This is the warning that climate scientists never wanted humanity to face. As the Pacific Ocean’s temperatures rise with the El Niño weather pattern, we will be faced with unpredictable and intense heat waves, scientists warn. However, these heat waves are not another reason to take refuge in the AC or escape to the beach — the increase in temperatures will also cause droughts, floods, and more damage to marine ecosystems and life.

A previously unpublished letter from former US President Abraham Lincoln was sold for USD 85k USD last week in Pennsylvania, says the New York Times. Raab Collections — an American historical auctioneer — acquired Lincoln’s letter from a private collection, where it had been held for a century, Raab said. The short but history-rich letter was dated 19 August, 1861, and addressed civil engineer Charles Ellet Jr. The buyer’s identity was not disclosed.

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