Ancient Roman writings revealed

Published: March 7, 2024, 5 p.m.

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As part of the Vesuvius Challenge, computer scientists have used machine learning to successfully reveal 2,000 characters from the Herculaneum scrolls. These artefacts were charred to a crisp following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Papyrologist Federica Nicolardi has been translating the writings, and tells us what exactly has been deciphered.

Following this week\\u2019s launch of NASA\\u2019s PACE satellite, NASA scientist Dr Susanne Craig tells us how the mission will be giving our planet a health check.

Bird flu is still an issue. This month, scientists have reported that hundreds of penguin chicks have died from the virus in the Falklands. Meanwhile, in Argentina, avian flu has killed huge numbers of elephant seal pups. Professor Wendy Barclay, a virologist from Imperial College London, tells us more about the virus and how it can jump between species.

Sunday 11th February is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Physicist Dr Jess Wade, who has written hundreds of Wikipedia biographies of women and underrepresented scientists, reveals one of her favourite scientists that people haven\\u2019t heard of.

Presenter: Victoria Gill \\nProducers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Florian Bohr, Louise Orchard \\nAssistant Producer: Jonathan Blackwell \\nResearcher: Imaan Moin \\nEditor: Martin Smith \\nProduction Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth\\u202f

BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.

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