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As companies develop large constellations of orbital data center satellites, experts say now is the time to start thinking about some critical space safety topics and rules of the road.
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The Israeli Antiquities Authority has announced the accidental discovery of a rare, 2500-year-old coin at one of the Ashdod beaches during a routine search for missing objects lost by beachgoers, such as car keys.
Authorities said that the ancient coin, which was made in Cyprus, is the first of its kind ever found in Israel, offering researchers a reliable historical source of information on maritime economic and trade activities in the region during this period.
According to a statement emailed to The Debrief, one of the informal everyday duties of the deputy director of the Ashdod Beaches Department is helping locals and out-of-town visitors locate lost items. While these searches typically involve beachfront hunts for jewelry, car keys, and other modern-day items, a recent search led by the current office holder, Avi Chaprak, led to a historic discovery.
According to Chaprak, when he spotted the coin, he noticed it was completely different from other items he was typically tasked with tracking down. Since antiquities laws require such historic items to be handed over, the deputy director immediately passed the unusual-looking coin to the Israeli Antiquities Authority.
After the IAA’s coin department analyzed the coin, they informed Chaprak just how unusual the coin was. First, they explained, the coin was minted in the ancient Cypriot city of Salamis in the mid-5th century BCE. This date is significant since the coin was made during a time when the Persian Empire ruled the island.
Second, the 11-gram standard coin, known at the time as a “Siglos,” was the first of its kind ever discovered on Israeli soil. The researchers said the first clue hinting at the coin’s origin was its material composition.
“At first glance, it looked to be made of silver,” explained Yanniv David Levy, Researcher and Curator in the Israel Antiquities Authority Coin Department, “but a closer examination showed it to actually be of metal that was only plated with silver; a known phenomenon in Cypriot silver coins from this period, given the shortage of silver on the island.”
A closer examination revealed that one side of the coin depicted a left-facing “recumbent” ram. The other side depicts a left-facing ram head placed within a sunken square frame. Next to the framed ram head is a vertical laurel branch with three symbols below it. The IAA statement said these symbols were “apparently of the Cypriot syllabic script.”
When discussing the historical significance and scientific value of Deputy Director Chaprak’s fortuitous discovery, Levy highlighted two points. First, the researcher said that Persian Empire period coins of this size and value “are rare altogether in the archaeological record.”
“Usually, silver coins of this size were not preserved intact,” Levy explained. “Over time, they were cut into small pieces, for use as local trade currency.”
The research also notes that evidence for this use of ancient silver Cypriot coins is “mainly from inland states in Israel.” As a result, Levy said that discovering a complete Cypriot coin from the coastal area is “unusual on all accounts, and of special historical importance.”
Dr. Evangeline Markou, a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, and a respected authority on ancient Cypriot coinage, agreed. For example, the researcher said, although 2500-year-old Salamis coins were circulating throughout the eastern Mediterranean, “finds with an exact provenance are rarer.”
“Therefore, this coin potentially offers significant information about trade ties and movement between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during this period,” Dr. Markou explained.
Along with recognition from the media and his colleagues, the IAA’s Coin Department awarded Chaprak with a certificate of appreciation for reporting the coin and delivering it to them. When asked about his role in the historic coin’s discovery, Chaprak said he felt privileged to do his part, while also noting how his own beliefs made the next steps after the discovery obvious.
“For me, it was clear that the coin belonged to our collective heritage, he said. “If through this act I contributed another small piece towards the research and history of the Land of Israel, then that is a great honor for me.”
Levy also highlighted the significance of Chaprak’s discovery and timely delivery of the 2500-year-old coin, noting how it helped preserve the object’s scientific and historical value.
“The circumstances of the discovery and the accurate reporting allow us researchers, not only to identify the coin itself, but also to use it as a reliable source of information about economic and maritime ties that existed in this region some 2500 years ago,” the IAA researcher concluded.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and has spent the last six years as Associate News Editor and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him at christopher@thedebrief.org
Amazon pulled out of U.S. Google Shopping in July 2025 and still hasn't returned. Here's what a year of auction data reveals for retailers.
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Você é daqueles que estão cansados de manter o Facebook instalado em seu dispositivo apenas para usar o Marketplace? Então trago boas notícias: a Meta lançou um aplicativo independente para a plataforma, em comemoração aos seus dez anos.
O Seller, como o próprio nome já indica, é indicado para usuários que vendem com frequência no Facebook Marketplace. É um entendimento de que usar o app principal da plataforma para vendas pode não ser a melhor experiência para esses vendedores.
Como destaques, o Seller oferece ferramentas centralizadas como criação de anúncios impulsionada por inteligência artificial, uma caixa de entrada unificada para mensagens de compradores, gestão de estoque e dados de desempenho de venda.
Disponível, por ora, apenas para usuários dos Estados Unidos (e com 18 anos de idade ou mais), ele sincroniza automaticamente com a conta do Facebook caso ela esteja conectada ao dispositivo.
A Meta também está lançando o Facebook Verified, um selo de verificação gratuito que ajudará usuários a comprovar a autenticidade de seus perfis em locais como os grupos, o Marketplace e o Namoro (Dating).
Para garantir um selo, os usuários (que não podem ser páginas e perfis profissionais) deverão enviar um vídeo no formato de selfie, o qual a plataforma comparará com as fotos publicadas para atestar a autenticidade.
A novidade está sendo lançada gradualmente em mercados selecionados (com planos de expansão global), mas a empresa não especificou exatamente quais são eles. Ela é restrita a maiores de 18 anos.
A Meta ainda anunciou que está implementando uma nova experiência imersiva em que o usuário visualiza um modo de vídeo em tela cheia assim que abre o Facebook — uma opção para quem consome muitos vídeos na plataforma.
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