Oldest-Known Human Brain Discovered 74
Smivs writes "The BBC report that archaeologists have found what could be Britain's oldest surviving human brain.
The team, excavating a York University site, discovered a skull containing a yellow substance which scans showed to be shrunken, but brain-shaped.
Brains consist of fatty tissue which microbes in the soil would absorb, so neurologists believe the find could be some kind of fossilised brain.
More tests will now be done to establish what it is actually made of.
The skull was discovered during an exploratory dig at Heslington Eastin, an area of extensive prehistoric farming landscape of fields, trackways and buildings dating back to at least 300 BC."
Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:4, Funny)
Actually, there were found, but didn't say much . Just kept walking slowly forward and saying Braaaaaaainnnnsss
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:5, Funny)
And I always thought that meant they were hungry... Turns out that they, like O.J., just wanted their property back.
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:4, Insightful)
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"Surviving" as in "intact".
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:4, Funny)
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You mean trademark. ;-) .. shit! (=_=)
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Sigh,
It is not "just wrong." It might be slighted shortened to a conversational form. But I assure you, the definition has been around for 100-500 years.
From the Oxford english dictionary:
Survive,
1. a. intr. To continue to live after the death of another...to remain alive, live on.
1b: transf. To continue to exist after some person, thing, or event; to last on.
In this context, unless the brain is from a zombie, I would draw your attention to accepted definition 1b. Even you should be
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Except in the case of upon discovery it disintegrated, in which opposite case it continues to... endure.
A shame they'll likely start sectioning it and shaving off layers to examine it long before we develop the technology to read the experiences encoded therein.
Re:Oldest *surviving* human brain!? (Score:5, Funny)
Well, it's at least revivable.
The problem is that it belonged to some fellow named Ab Normal.
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How about "oldest extant human brain"?
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It's like that severed tongue floating in a jar they found a few years ago. It wouldn't die, it just grew and pulsated and gave birth to baby tongues. Pretty cool, huh?
This is the same thing. Put it in a jar and it will grow and pulsate and give birth to baby brains.
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shrunken (Score:3, Funny)
It's not fossilized, it just belongs to a [$PROFESSION|$POLITICAL_PARTY].
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... wha? Am I first or what?
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What?
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I was actually waiting for a few jokes revolving around "they saved"+$celebrity+"'s brain", but no hit so far either.
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"The researchers have contacted John McCain and fully intend to return the brain to him."
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It's George W. Bush's. His brain has been in the UK all along. Occam's Razor -- it goes a long way to explaining a great deal.
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No, they also found a shrunken heart which they attribute to the owner being either a politician/lawyer.
The brain they believe may have belonged to a early **professional athlete, and it's lasted for quite a long time because it apparently wasn't used much :-)
**disclaimer: Humor intended, I actually know some fairly smart athletes
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Hey man, if you explain the Joke ad nauseam it ain't funny anymore.
You ever see Eddie Murphy explain that he actually knew Jamaicans with Normal Dicks (TM)? Or did you ever see Richard Pryor explain he actually knew some black people that couldn't outrun a dobermann? Should have more faith in your joke. Tsk tsk... it was a perfectly fine joke. Until that American Disclaimer popped up.
Re:Thanks (Score:5, Funny)
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its not fossilized brain (Score:5, Funny)
its fruitcake
its hard to tell the difference without a good sniff
and besides, if you wanted to make sure it wasn't trotted out again for another christmas, wouldn't you hide it some place disageeable and avoidable like a skull too?
so many geriatric jokes, so little time (Score:3, Funny)
Oldest brain? Fossilized? I wouldn't even know where to begin.
Leave it alone! (Score:4, Funny)
Good news, everyone! (Score:2)
Let's just hope it was "fast fossilized."
Zombies (Score:2)
Mmmmmm... brain jerky!
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This is an outrage! I was going to eat that mummy.
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It's British....can you say (Score:3, Funny)
28 centuries later? I just got a really bad feeling about that in my stomach. After Reign Of Fire, that title is possible....
That happens to me all the time. (Score:3, Funny)
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Well, there's rather a lengthy waiting time to get it sorted out, but it can be done with some careful planning. :-P
Cheers
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...but it can be done with some careful planning. :-P
Copyright infringement!
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You should apply as a Mentat. "It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion..." and all that.
Wow... (Score:2)
ziiiiiiiing! (Score:2)
Ritual Offering (Score:4, Funny)
FTFA:
The archaeologists believe the skull, which was found on its own in a muddy pit, may have been a ritual offering.
Perhaps we should do the same for our U.S. banking and automotive executives who can't manage their companies properly.
Instead of a multi-million dollar golden parachute we take their heads and throw them into the nearest bog.
Einstein (Score:1)
Anyone else find it fitting that the icon for the Science section is Einstein [wikipedia.org]?
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Well, it's a brain thing. But whatever.
Prehistoric? (Score:3, Insightful)
"The skull was discovered during an exploratory dig at Heslington Eastin, an area of extensive prehistoric farming landscape of fields, trackways and buildings dating back to at least 300 BC."
Wait, when did 300 BC become prehistoric?
Re:Prehistoric? (Score:5, Informative)
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Obviously, it's not to be taken literally. He's referring to any purveyor of dairy products.
Oldest? (Score:2)
warning: pdf link http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/189/2/W105.pdf [ajronline.org]
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Extend the hyperlink one word to the left (across "Britain's ...") and it makes sense.
FWIW, pictures!:
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/brainscan_images.htm [york.ac.uk]
and the Uni press release:
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/skull.htm [york.ac.uk]
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No, I don't watch that crap.
He's too busy reading this crap and then adding his own crap to the pile.
Why do you eat people? (Score:1)
TorsoWoman: Not PEEEpuhl... BRAAAINS-suh... (spine tapping on table)
Mortician, quizzically: Why do you eat... brains?
TW: It makes the PAIN go AWAY...
M: baffled: Pain? What pain is that?
TW: The PAIN of BEING DEAD...
M: Hwuh, I guess it HURTS to be DEAD...
TW: I.. can feel myself rotting... away... (moans) Brains, brains brains brains brains......(spine tapping on table, rapidly)
Piltdown man (Score:2)
Next they will say it belongs to Piltdown man!
Not the World's Oldest (Score:1)