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Happy Independence Day!

Here are three surprising and interesting facts about July 4th that you may not know about:

1. Not All Founding Fathers Signed on July 4th: While July 4th, 1776, is celebrated as the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted, not all the founding fathers signed it on that day. In fact, the majority of signatures were added on August 2nd, 1776, and some even later than that.

2. Fireworks Tradition Began Early: The tradition of setting off fireworks on July 4th dates back to the very first Independence Day celebration in 1777. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported that "The evening was closed with the ring of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated." Thus, fireworks have been part of the celebration almost since its inception.

3. Adams and Jefferson's Coincidental Deaths: Two of the most prominent signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration.

Health Science

Reduce Back Pain

New research suggests that walking more could significantly alleviate back pain for millions of sufferers. Adults with a history of lower back pain experienced longer periods without recurrence when they engaged in regular walking, according to a groundbreaking study.

Approximately 800 million people worldwide endure low back pain, often recurring and a major cause of disability. The study by Macquarie University’s Spinal Pain Research Group in Sydney investigated whether walking could serve as a practical and effective intervention.

Researchers tracked 701 adults who had recently recovered from low back pain, dividing them into groups: one received an individualized walking program and physiotherapist-guided education sessions over six months, while the other served as a control.

Over one to three years, participants in the walking program experienced significantly longer periods before recurrence of pain compared to the control group (208 days versus 112 days median). Mark Hancock, senior author of the study published in The Lancet, emphasized the potential global impact of these findings on back pain management.

"Walking is a low-cost, widely accessible exercise that almost anyone can do, regardless of location, age, or socioeconomic status," Hancock noted. He suggested that walking's benefits likely stem from its gentle movements, which may strengthen spinal structures, provide relaxation, and release endorphins.

Dr. Natasha Pocovi, lead author, highlighted that the program not only extended pain-free periods but also proved cost-effective, reducing healthcare visits and work absences.

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World News

5,000 Year Old Rock Art

Geologists have long known that over 5,000 years ago, the Sahara Desert was a lush grassland. Recent evidence from Sudan supports this, with rock art from 2018 showing cattle herders and boats.

In the eastern Sahara's Atbai region, where rain hasn't supported cattle for millennia, rock carvings depict six boats on a cave wall, 90 miles from the nearest Nile branch. The boats are arranged like a fleet, emerging from a tunnel entrance.

The carvings are unusual due to their simplicity, suggesting they were made by common people rather than officials. Julien Cooper, an archaeologist at Macquarie University, noted the cattle drawings indicate a strong connection to cattle, which can't survive in today's hyper-arid desert.

Pottery found near the petroglyphs dates the carvings to the fourth millennium BCE. As the Atbai became more arid around 5,000 years ago, the authors propose that the carvers were Neolithic Nubians, possibly early gold prospectors, due to golden items found in burials from that era.

The authors suggest that pastoralists may have found periodic grasslands and water in the desert, similar to regions in the Western Desert that received African monsoons. The detailed depiction of a cow's udder in the rock art indicates that milking was vital, requiring ample forage. This implies the carvers were part of a pastoral tradition from wetter climates or periods.

The study concludes that these carvers represent the last remnants of an ancient nomadic pastoralism that existed before the region dried to its current state.

Sports

The 152nd Open at Royal Troon

The Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland will host the 152nd Open Championship from July 14-21, 2024. Known simply as The Open, this tournament is one of golf's oldest and most prestigious, attracting top players worldwide.

Royal Troon, a historic course last hosting The Open in 2016, is famous for its tough layout, featuring narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and the notorious Postage Stamp hole. Players will face challenging conditions and unpredictable weather.

The Open, established in 1860, is a test of skill and a celebration of tradition. The winner will claim the Claret Jug, a symbol of golfing excellence.

Mind Stretchers

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