Watch these predatory fish use rapid color changes to coordinate attacks

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CELL PRESS

 

IMAGE: 

CLOSE UP OF AN ATTACKING MARLIN WITH ITS HIGHLY CONTRASTING STRIPES AND ONE WITHOUT

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CREDIT: ALICIA BURNS

Striped marlin are some of the fastest animals on the planet and one of the ocean’s top predators. When hunting in groups, individual marlin will take turns attacking schools of prey fish one at a time. Now a new study reported in the journal Current Biology on February 5 helps to explain how they might coordinate this turn-taking style of attack on their prey to avoid injuring each other. The key, according to the new work, is rapid color changes.

“We documented for the first time rapid color change in a group-hunting predator, the striped marlin, as groups of marlin hunted schools of sardines,” says Alicia Burns of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. “We found that the attacking marlin 'lit up' and became much brighter than its groupmates as it made its attack before rapidly returning to its 'non-bright' coloration after its attack ended.”

Burns and her colleagues, including Jens Krause, explained that the use of drones in their research has given them a new perspective of how marlins move and hunt. As they examined the video footage they’d captured via drone, they noticed something unexpected: the stripes on individual marlins got obviously brighter as a fish moved in for an attack. As they swam away, those stripes dimmed again. Were the fish changing colors to communicate with one another?

To explore this question in the new study, the researchers analyzed 12 high-resolution video clips, each containing two separate attacks on a school of sardines by two different marlin. They also quantified the contrast of the stripes on the two attacking marlins compared to a randomly chosen marlin that wasn’t attacking. Their analysis confirms that the predatory fish rapidly change color, suggesting that the color change might serve as a reliable signal of an individual’s motivation to go in for an attack.

“Color change in predators is rare, but especially so in group-hunting predators,” Burns said. “Although it is known that marlin can change color, this is the first time it's been linked to hunting or any social behavior.”

The discovery suggests that marlins have more complicated communication channels than had been suspected. The researchers propose that the color changes might even serve a dual purpose of confusing their prey.

They now hope to explore this idea, alongside other questions. For example, they want to find out whether marlins use their color-changing abilities in other contexts. They’re curious to know whether they still change color when hunting solo and how the changes affect their prey. They are also looking into similar color changes in other predatory species of fish.

“We already have footage of hunting behavior of sailfish and mahi mahi where we have seen even more pronounced and more variable color change than in the marlin,” Burns says.

Marlin hunting [VIDEO] | 

Current Biology, Burns et al. “Rapid colour change in a group-hunting pelagic predator when attacking schooling prey” https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)01740-2

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.

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JOURNAL

Current Biology

DOI

10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.040 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Rapid colour change in a group-hunting pelagic predator when attacking schooling prey

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-Feb-2024

 

Award-winning researcher dreams of stellar explosions and strives for equity and inclusion in academia

Professor Irene Tamborra from the Niels Bohr Institute receives the prestigious Elite Research Prize and DKK 1.2 million in honor of her research in astrophysics

Grant and Award Announcement

UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN - FACULTY OF SCIENCE

 

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THE PROFESSOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN’S NIELS BOHR INSTITUTE FINDS HERSELF AT THE TOP OF A LIST OF YOUNG, WORLD-CLASS DANISH RESEARCHERS – AND IS NOW RECEIVING THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENCE'S ANNUAL ELITE RESEARCH PRIZE.

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CREDIT: OLA JAKUP JOENSEN

She studies the giant explosions of dying stars and dreams of experiencing and extracting data from a supernova close to Earth. Professor Irene Tamborra from the Niels Bohr Institute also tirelessly promotes equity and inclusion in research. Today she receives the prestigious Elite Research Prize and DKK 1.2 million in honor of her research in astrophysics.

 

"I am fascinated by anything that explodes in the sky," Professor Irene Tamborra says as she begins to describe her research. The professor from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute finds herself at the top of a list of young, world-class Danish researchers – and is now receiving the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's annual Elite Research Prize.

Professor Tamborra has provided pioneering contributions to an entirely new area of astrophysics known as 'multi-messenger astrophysics'. Since joining the Niels Bohr Institute in 2016, she has established a world-leading group in this new emerging field that studies explosive and energetic events in our Universe, such as supernova explosions, the merger of two neutron stars, and other exotic objects that we are just discovering in the sky.   

"To find out what goes on in the core of these energetic cosmic booms, we now have the exciting opportunity to combine photons, neutrinos, and gravitational waves. Just as we humans use all our senses to explore our surroundings, we combine the information carried by these different cosmic messengers to find answers about fascinating astrophysical objects, fundamental physics, and the cosmic origin of the elements making the periodic table," explains Irene Tamborra.

The dream of a stellar explosion in our backyard

As massive stars explode they emit cosmic messengers with enormous power sending clues about the engine powering stellar collapses to researchers.

“The collapse of a massive star, leading to a colossal explosion that can outshine the entire galaxy, results in the emission of neutrinos, photons and gravitational waves that we can detect on Earth. The origin of the atoms in our body can be ultimately traced back to supernova explosions and these cosmic explosions are therefore essential to our life. This is why it is so important to figure out how they work," says Professor Tamborra.

Scientists observed for the first time a supernova in neutrinos in 1987. This stellar collapse occurred very close to the Milky Way, in the Large Magellanic Cloud.  At the time, astronomers weren’t equipped with the telescopes and measuring instruments available today. Therefore, one of Tamborra’s greatest dreams is for another supernova to occur close enough to Earth for her research group to learn from it.

"It would be absolutely wonderful because we would be able to measure a million times more particles from the explosion than we could forty years ago and we would be finally able to test our understanding of how these objects work," she says.

Irene Tamborra's discoveries have born groundbreaking new understandings in astrophysics. For example, her research shows that neutrinos – the smallest and second most abundant sub-atomic particles in the universe after photons – play an important role in the physics of supernovae and the merger of two neutron stars, and that these particles can deliver crucial insights from these fascinating cosmic phenomena, which cannot be obtained through electromagnetic radiation.

An inclusive environment in a male-dominated field

In addition to the modeling of cosmic explosions of various types, the researcher is actively engaged in promoting equity and diversity in Academia. It is no secret that there are too few women in STEM fields, but the gender ratio in theoretical (astro) physics is even more skewed. This is a fact that the researcher has experienced firsthand in her own professional trajectory. 

"Throughout my career, I've become accustomed to being the only woman in the room, or on the entire floor. It has made me feel out of place, which shouldn’t be the case. Therefore, I try to create an inclusive and welcoming environment in my group, independently of gender, scientific or cultural backgrounds," she says and stresses the upsides in having a diverse research group:   

"By having a diverse environment, both with regards to gender and scientific backgrounds, we approach problems differently, which is a huge strength that makes us more creative and encourages more interesting discussions than if we were all alike," concludes Irene Tamborra.

The award will be presented today, 26 February 2024, at 13:00 by H.M. The Queen and the Minister for Higher Education and Science.  Read more about the Elite Research Prize here.

(Box) More about Irene Tamborra:

Irene Tamborra is Italian. She is Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, where she leads the Particle Astrophysics group. She is also Mercator Fellow (equivalent of Visiting Professor) at the Max Planck Institutes for Physics and Astrophysics in Garching, Germany.

Irene’s research activity is at the interface between astrophysics and particle physics. Her work focuses on the violent universe, especially on stellar explosions and transient astrophysical events, aiming at unveiling what can be learnt by adopting neutrinos, photons and gravitational waves as probes of the physics of these sources. She is also interested in modeling (quantum) particle transport and particle acceleration in astrophysical outflows, physics beyond the Standard Model, and nucleosynthesis of the heavy elements.

She is the recipient of several international awards for her research, including the MERAC Prize from the European Astronomical Society, the Duggal Award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, and the European Research Council Consolidator Award. 

 

Discrimination drives smoking habits, hurting heart health

Impact of discrimination varies by identity, pointing to need for more intersectional research

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Everyday discrimination can influence unhealthy coping behaviors such as smoking, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. However, the impact differs depending on one’s identity, with Hispanic women experiencing the greatest risk for heart disease as a result of discrimination.

 

“Experiences of discrimination are framed by individual cultural realities and contexts,” said Stephanie Cook, assistant professor of biostatistics and social and behavioral sciences at the NYU School of Global Public Health and the study’s lead author. “Discrimination at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities may be particularly damaging to health.”

 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., but some people are at greater risk based on their race, ethnicity, or sex. These disparities can be explained, in part, by social determinants of health—the environmental conditions in which we live that influence our health, from income and education to air pollution and access to healthy foods.

 

Discrimination is another social determinant of health, and research shows that stress caused by this unjust treatment can worsen heart health. This may be because discrimination changes how our physiological stress systems function, which can cause inflammation and lead to the thickening of arteries. Studies also show that being discriminated against can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, including smoking, a well-known risk factor for heart disease.

 

Most research looks at the health effects of discrimination in the context of a single identity, such as race, gender, or sexual orientation. But this neglects the reality of having overlapping identities, a concept known as intersectionality.

 

To understand the connection between discrimination, smoking, and heart health, Cook and her colleagues analyzed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a national study sponsored by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). More than 6,800 adults without a diagnosis of heart disease were asked about their health behavior, heart disease-related risk factors, demographics, and whether they feel that they are subject to discrimination. The researchers examined the associations among discrimination, cigarette smoking, and two measures of heart health: carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in the carotid arteries, both of which are strong predictors of future cardiovascular events.

 

They found that discrimination had an indirect effect on measures of heart health—but only for certain populations. Hispanic women were the most affected, with greater discrimination linked to more cigarette use, and, in turn, more arterial plaque. Hispanic men also experienced the impact of discrimination, with increased discrimination linked to more smoking and greater plaque and carotid intima-media thickness.

 

According to the researchers, the results demonstrate the importance of considering multiple identities when studying health disparities and creating interventions to improve health.

 

“A key takeaway from this analysis is that we need to be doing more intersectional research on cardiovascular disease,” said Cook. “We are missing the links between discrimination and cardiovascular disease if we do not consider mechanisms such as smoking in the context of intersectionality. For instance, designing a program to reduce heart disease in men or women, or among certain racial groups alone, is not sufficient due to the unique lived experiences of Hispanic women, for example.”

 

Cook completed this research as part of the NHLBI BioData Catalyst Fellows Program, which provides researchers with funding to support projects that use innovative data science to study pressing problems related to cardiovascular health.

 

In addition to Cook, study authors include Erica Wood of the NYU School of Global Public Health, James Stein of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Robyn McClelland of the University of Washington School of Public Health. The research was funded by NHLBI (#OT2HL167310).

 

About the NYU School of Global Public Health

At the NYU School of Global Public Health (NYU GPH), we are preparing the next generation of public health pioneers with the critical thinking skills, acumen, and entrepreneurial approaches necessary to solve global health challenges. Devoted to employing a nontraditional, interdisciplinary model, NYU GPH aims to improve health worldwide through a unique blend of global public health studies, research, and practice. The School is located in the heart of New York City and extends to NYU's global network on six continents. Innovation is at the core of our ambitious approach, thinking and teaching. For more, visit: http://publichealth.nyu.edu/

 

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JOURNAL

Journal of the American Heart Association

DOI

10.1161/JAHA.123.032659 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Discrimination, Smoking, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Moderated Mediation Analysis With MESA

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

23-Feb-2024

 JAMA NETWORK

Use of tobacco products and suicide attempts among elementary school–aged children

JAMA Network Open

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA NETWORK

About The Study: The findings of this study of 8,988 preadolescent children suggest that the increased risk of suicide attempts, consistently reported for adolescents and adults who smoke cigarettes, extends to a range of emerging tobacco products and manifests among elementary school–aged children. Further investigations are imperative to clarify the underlying mechanisms and to implement effective preventive policies for children.

Authors: Phil H. Lee, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, is the corresponding author. 

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ 

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0376)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0376?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=022624

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication. 

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JOURNAL

JAMA Network Open

Treating adolescent opioid use disorder in primary care

JAMA Pediatrics

About The Study: This survey study found that primary care pediatricians felt less prepared to manage adolescents’ opioid use disorder (OUD) than alcohol, cannabis, or e-cigarette use and were more likely to refer them to offsite care. These results reveal an opportunity for greater workforce training in line with a 2019 survey showing fewer than 1 in 3 pediatric residency programs included education on prescribing OUD medications. 

Authors: Scott E. Hadland, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., of Mass General for Children in Boston, is the corresponding author.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6493)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6493?guestAccessKey=0ff72e65-215a-401d-a39e-521e17196159&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=022624

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JOURNAL

JAMA Pediatrics

 

Study shows news organizations still lead in sharing difficult information on social media

As news deserts expand, community orgs face pressures that make certain topics fraught to discuss

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

LAWRENCE — As media organizations across the country fold and news deserts grow, it remains to be seen who will tell the tough stories and ask difficult questions traditionally posed by journalists.

Social media provides an opportunity for community organizations and leaders to take that role, but a new study shows that in the case of difficult conversations regarding racial disparities and the COVID-19 pandemic, news outlets still take the lead in sharing such information.

The pandemic saw pronounced health disparities and negative outcomes falling disproportionately on communities of color. That happened around the same time as the murder of George Floyd and resulting protests for racial justice across the country. Those concurrent events provided an opportunity to examine how organizations discussed a difficult topic, said Christopher Etheridge, assistant professor of journalism & mass communications at the University of Kansas.

“This raises some interesting questions like, ‘What civic conversations are taking place online as organizations become increasingly reliant on social media to communicate?’” said Etheridge, a contributor to the project. “If everyone has their own Facebook page to control the message, are the difficult conversations necessary to a healthy community taking place?”

Researchers from the Civic Infrastructure Lab at Michigan State University and colleagues conducted two studies to examine the question. They analyzed more than 1,250 Facebook posts made by civic organizations, including news outlets, nonprofits, community organizations, public libraries, universities and local public Facebook groups from March of 2020 to September 2021. They also interviewed 17 communications managers from the organizations about what they posted and the strategy behind those decisions. 

Data showed that 14.5% of posts mentioned the pandemic and 2.5% mentioned racism and/or Black Lives Matter, though only .06 percent of posts from across the organizations mentioned racial or health disparities pertaining to COVID-19. Of those, nearly 70% were made by news organizations, followed by nonprofits at 29.7%, health organizations with about 5%, government officials at 1.7%, educational organizations with 1.2%, politicians at 1% and civic service organizations at .31%. Libraries and neighborhood groups made no such posts.

The post analysis and interviews were conducted within six communities in the Great Lakes region: Flint and Lansing, Michigan; Bemidji and Duluth, Minnesota; and Gary and South Bend, Indiana. The communities were chosen for a high variation of racial diversity of residents, number of local news outlets and metrics of economic equality.

“We didn’t see a ton of conversations about health disparities even among organizations where that might be a part of their mission,” Etheridge said. “We thought the summer of 2020 might be an opportunity for these organizations to raise topics connected to health and race, but we found people hesitant in part because of the perception that there is already so much negativity, trolling and unpleasant comments already out there.”

The paper, published in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, was co-written by Ava Francesca Battocchio, Kjerstin Thorson, Dan Hiaeshutter-Rice, Marisa Smith, Hyesun Choung, Chuqing Dong and Moldir Moldagaliyeva of Michigan State University; Yingying Chen of Renmin University of China; Stephanie Edgerly of Northwestern University; and Kelley Cotter of Pennsylvania State University. 

The researchers also conducted interviews with storytellers on how they decide the content to share via their social media channels. The communications managers indicated they were aware of racial health disparities and COVID-19, but outside of news organizations, they understood their role in creating content regarding race and health disparities in different ways. Interviewees said they were concerned about their organization’s reputation and that their financial well-being could be negatively affected if their reputation suffered from posting about controversial issues. They also indicated hesitancy to impugn the reputation of their community by implying social inequity was a problem there, the study found.

And while managers indicated they were aware of racial disparities in health outcomes, few respondents indicated they saw it as a problem in their own community, the study found.

Interviewees from news organizations said that they saw their role differently and that they had a responsibility to share information about disparities in health and injustice, even if it was uncomfortable or difficult to accept, the study found.

“Non-news organizations didn’t say, ‘We need to be leading public thinking on these topics,’” Etheridge said. “A lot of people were craving engagement but didn’t want to have conversations online that could turn nasty or negative. News organizations recognized that having tough conversations was part of their mission, shining light on these issues in a public way. So this leads us to wonder what happens if these news organizations go away or shrink in size.”

The pandemic coinciding with renewed attention to systemic racism in the wake of Floyd’s murder provided a unique opportunity to “stress test” local civic information infrastructure, the researchers wrote, and the findings validate the importance of local journalism to facilitate difficult, yet necessary conversations. 

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JOURNAL

The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

DOI

10.1177/00027162231214398 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Content analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Who Will Tell the Stories of Health Inequities? Platform Challenges (and Opportunities) in Local Civic Information Infrastructure

 

Rural communities face greater risks of radon exposure compared to urban areas

UCalgary researchers find elevated radon gas levels in rural homes with close proximity to drilled groundwater wells

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

 

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AASRON GOODARZI (LEFT) STANDS AT THE WELL HEAD ON HENK DE HAAN'S (RIGHT) PROPERTY. NEW STUDY FINDS ELEVATED RADON GAS LEVELS IN RURAL HOMES WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DRILLED GROUNDWATER WELLS.

 

 

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CREDIT: KELLY JOHNSTON, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

University of Calgary researchers have found a link between radon exposure in rural homes based on how close they are to drilled groundwater wells. The transdisciplinary team was investigating why homes in rural communities often have a much higher concentration of radon compared with homes in urban areas. The researchers from the faculties of medicine, science and architecture looked at the geophysical makeup of areas, the style of home as well as unique features on or near the property. 

“For years now, in Canada and all across the world, people have documented higher radon levels in homes in more rural communities compared to homes in urban communities,” says Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, principal investigator and associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine. “It's the water wells - not the water, but the wells themselves appear to be acting as unintended straws for radon gas deep in the ground. Thankfully, lowering radon levels in a home is fixable.” 

Many rural properties and communities rely on well water. The researchers also tested the water for radon and found there is not enough radon in the well water to significantly contribute to the high radon being observed in indoor air. Instead, the problem appears to result from the drill hole space existing around water well pipes. 

“We know that methane gas bubbles up around the outside of some oil and gas wells,” says Dr. Cathy Ryan, PhD, study co-lead and professor in the Faculty of Science. “This caused us to wonder if “unintended” or “fugitive” radon gas migration might also be occurring along water wells.”

Radon is an invisible, odourless, tasteless and radioactive gas. Naturally rising from under the ground and diluting to virtually nothing in outdoor air, radon gas is often drawn up and concentrated inside modern buildings to unnaturally high and cancer-causing levels. Prolonged radon gas exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-tobacco users in Canada.

“In order to design safe and healthy buildings, it’s imperative to understand the environment in which they exist,” says Josh Taron, MArch, study co-lead and the associate dean of research and innovation at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at UCalgary. “While soil gas has often been overlooked in North American homes, this work gives us important insights into the geological issues that building designs must be able to safely address.”

The study, published in Scientific Reports, found, on average, individuals living in rural communities were exposed to 30 per cent higher residential radon levels than people living in urban communities. The higher rural radon effect was consistent for households across Canada. The researchers say these findings underscore the importance of regular radon testing, particularly in rural areas where drilled groundwater wells are prevalent.

The study was supported by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

The Evict Radon National Study is a Canada-wide transdisciplinary research project involving university-based scientists whose mission is to 'Evict Radon' from homes. By integrating technology, skills and knowledge, the Evict Radon team aims to understand and prevent radon exposure while ensuring inclusivity in lung cancer screening programs. For more information, visit https://evictradon.org

 

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JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-024-53458-6 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Rural communities experience higher radon exposure versus urban areas, potentially due to drilled groundwater well annuli acting as unintended radon gas migration conduits

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-Feb-2024

 

Plant seed and fruit analysis from the biblical home of Goliath sheds unprecedented light on Philistine ritual practices

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

TEMPLE OFFERINGS - MINIATURE AS WELL AS FOOD SERVING VESSELS, AND A SHELL OF MARINE MOLLUSC, TONNA GALEA FOUND IN ONE OF THE TEMPLES 

 

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CREDIT: PROF. AREN MAEIR

The enigmatic Philistine culture, which flourished during the Iron Age (ca. 1200-604 BCE), profoundly affected the southern Levant's cultural history, agronomy, and dietary customs. More than a quarter century of excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath in central Israel, identified as the biblical Gath of the Philistines and the home of Goliath, has provided a unique window into the world of this ancient civilization. In the systematic excavation project of the temple area in the lower city of Gath, a team from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, led by Prof. Aren Maeir (archaeology) and Prof. Ehud Weiss (archaeobotany), has overseen the reconstruction of the plants used in Philistine rituals.

 

While many aspects of Philistine culture are well-documented, the specifics of Philistine religious practices and deities have long remained shrouded in mystery. The study by Frumin et al. on "Plant-Related Philistine Ritual Practices at Biblical Gath," recently published in Scientific Reports, contributes valuable new data to our understanding of the Philistine's ritual practices. The discovery of numerous plants in two temples unearthed at the site unraveled unprecedented insights into Philistine cultic rituals and beliefs – their temple food ingredients, timing of ceremonies, and plants for temple decoration.

 

Dr. Suembikya Frumin, under Prof. Ehud Weiss's supervision, studied Philistine plant use in their temples as part of her PhD project. Together with Dr. Amit Dagan, Maria Eniukhina, and Prof. Aren Maeir, they delved into the plant assemblages discovered within the temples’ precincts, uncovering a wealth of information regarding the significance of various plant species in Philistine religious rituals. Through meticulous examination and quantitative and qualitative analysis of the types of plants used, the timing of their harvest, modes of offering, and potential symbolic significance, the researchers pieced together a clearer picture of the Philistine approach to spirituality.

 

Dr. Suembikya Frumin, manager of the Archaeobotany Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University and the study's lead researcher, noted, "One of the most significant findings is the identification of earliest known ritual uses of several Mediterranean plants, such as the lilac chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria), and silvery scabious (Lomelosia argentea). These widespread Mediterranean plants connect Philistines with cultic rituals, mythology and paraphernalia related to early Greek deities, such as Hera, Artemis, Demeter, and Asclepios. In addition, plants with psychoactive and medicinal properties in the Philistine temples reveal their use for cultic activities. The study revealed that the Philistine religion relied on the magic and power of nature, such as running water and seasonality, aspects that influence human health and life."

 

Moreover, analysis of the temples’ seeds and fruits provided valuable insights into the timing of rituals, with the importance of the early spring for temple rites, and the date of the final utilization of the temples -- and their destruction by Hazael of Aram – which occurred in late summer or early fall. The seasonal aspect of Philistine religious practices underscores their deep connection to the natural worlds and the cycles of agriculture.

 

Prof. Ehud Weiss, Director the Archaeobotany Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University and co-author of the study, commented, “Our findings challenge previous understandings of Philistine ritual practices and offer a fresh perspective on their cultural practices, and the connections between Philistine culture and broader Mediterranean religious traditions. By examining the plants they used in ritual contexts, we better understand how the Philistines perceived and interacted with the world around them."

 

Furthermore, the study proposes intriguing parallels between Philistine and Aegean ceremonial practices. The discovery of loom weights (an apparatus used for fabric production) within Philistine temples, a common feature in Aegean cult locations associated with Hera, further strengthens the hypothesis of cultural exchange and influence between the two regions.

 

“These findings open up new avenues for research into the cultural and religious interactions between the Philistines and neighboring regions,” added study co-author Prof. Aren Maeir, of Bar-Ilan University’s Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, who has directed the excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath for more than 25 years. “By employing advanced quantitative and qualitative analyses of plant assemblages, we have deepened our understanding of ancient cultic practices and their significance in the broader Mediterranean world.”

 

“This new data indicates knowledgeable activity by temple personnel regarding the use of plants with mood-affecting features. Our method of quantitative and qualitative analysis of total plant assemblage should be highly relevant for analyzing other ancient cults and for the study of the cultural and cultic history of the region and beyond,” concluded Dr. Frumin.

 

Photos, captions and credits may be found here. 

  

Flowering crown daisy

CREDIT

Dr. Suembikya

  

Flowering chaste tree

CREDIT

Sofia Frumin

Chaste Tree, Flowering Modern Inflorescence (IMAGE)

BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY

Chaste tree flower

Fruits of chaste tree in the temple - fossil fruits of the chaste tree, as found in the inner room of the temple in Tell es-Safi/Gath, lower city.  

Photograph of Chaste tree fruits produced using stereoscopic light microscope Olympus SZ×10 DP73 and digital scanning using cellSens Dimension 1.9 program, Adobe Photoshop 2024 was used for background editing.

JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

ARTICLE TITLE

Plant-Related Philistine Ritual Practices at Biblical Gath