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    The Science and Technology Brief is a biweekly glance at interesting science and technology news and profiles on science and technology that is or will affect us all. For Thursday: ‘Mona Lisa’s Smile’, ‘Archeologists Find the Endeavor’, ‘Mummy Tattoos’, and ‘Spaceports’.
Mona Lisa’s Smile
    I find it ironic that a painting that so little is known about causes such a reaction in people, both rational and conspirists alike. So, it is with no certainty that the upcoming 500th anniversary of the painting is being celebrated, which may or not have been painted in 1506. As for the painting’s involvement in other widely celebrated conspiracies, only Mona Lisa knows if they are true…
Archeologists Find the Endeavor
    Well, sort of. In truth, archeologists found the remains of several ships sunk off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island by the British during the American Revolution to try and stop the French from landing. One of those ships, it turns out, was the Endeavor, previously famed for its voyage under James Cook to Australia. While no one can be sure which vessel is, in fact, the Endeavor, it is very likely that one of the remains is that ship.
Mummy Tattoos
    The Moche people have always fascinated me because of their ancientness, sophistication, and relative obscurity as one of the early advanced civilizations of what is now Peru. Add to that mystique the recent discovery of the tattooed mummy of a woman theoretically buried about 450.
    What makes that mummy even more interesting is the fact that she was buried with treasure normally reserved for a warrior, though female warriors are yet unknown in Moche archeology. Such discoveries keep this unknown and ancient civilization interesting and in the public eye.
Spaceports
    Cities across the US are racing to build ‘spaceports’ in anticipation of the rumored space exploitation boom. While I think that race might be a bit premature, it is still interesting and heartening to see individuals and governments paying serious attention to recent advances in private space exploitation. Perhaps if enough people- read money- become involved in this endeavor, it will become the reality that it should.
DLH
