Unveiling Beethoven's Health Through His Hair

I first learned to play Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" on the violin. It was one of the first songs I mastered.

Playing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony's fourth movement with my fellow orchestra members was a moment of pure joy and togetherness that I will always remember. Every note we played felt like a celebration.

However, Beethoven also expressed his feelings of despair in his final symphony, showing that every musical moment has its ups and downs.

Beethoven started losing his hearing in his twenties and was completely deaf by his thirties. However, this did not deter him from creating some of his most iconic and long-lasting compositions.

The famous composer had hoped that his health struggles would be known and shared with the world. Although the notes from his doctors have been lost over time, researchers managed to analyze Beethoven's DNA from strands of his hair just last year.

Now, researchers are one step closer to understanding the troubled genius’ mysterious ailments.

Explorations

An engraving shows German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven in 1805.

An engraving shows German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven in 1805.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A new analysis of Beethoven’s hair has shown the composer experienced lead poisoning toward the end of his life. He died at age 56 in 1827.

Tests showed very high levels of lead, arsenic, and mercury in two of his locks, probably from drinking wine sweetened with lead.

Scientists think that lead poisoning may not have been the cause of his death, but it could have worsened his stomach problems and hearing loss.

Understanding the factors that caused Beethoven's death from kidney and liver diseases could help us see how he turned his pain into music. "Some may question why we need to know about Beethoven's personal struggles when we can just enjoy his music. But there is a clear link between his suffering and the music he created," explained William Meredith, a Beethoven expert.

Solar update

Dazzling auroras could appear in the skies over locations as far south as Alabama this weekend due to a rare spike in solar activity.

Scientists at the Space Weather Prediction Center have detected several flares and coronal mass ejections. These events involve huge clouds of ionized gas, known as plasma, and magnetic fields that are erupting from a group of sunspots that are 16 times larger than Earth.

The predicted solar storm could cause disruptions to the power grid and communication systems on Earth. However, experts assure that there is no necessity for individuals to take any special actions to get ready for space weather.

However, you may want to take photos of the sky with your phone, as your camera may capture the dancing lights of the aurora borealis.

We are family

Researchers in Saudi Arabia studied Umm Jirsan, the longest lava tube system in the region.

Researchers in Saudi Arabia studied Umm Jirsan, the longest lava tube system in the region.

Green Arabia Project

Long ago, lava flows formed underground tunnels known as lava tubes on Earth. These tunnels served as a cool shelter for our ancient ancestors during the Neolithic period.

During the Stone Age, about 7,000 years ago, tunnels were used by herders and their animals to escape the harsh weather conditions in the Arabian Peninsula.

In Saudi Arabia, researchers found carvings at Umm Jirsan showing stick-figure humans with dogs and sheep. These artifacts have helped archaeologists understand how people lived in the lava tubes and adapted to the dry surroundings.

Once upon a planet

Strange creatures began appearing on Earth more than 500 million years ago — and scientists now think it’s because Earth’s protective magnetic field nearly collapsed.

Single-celled, microscopic organisms were the first life-forms on Earth. Around 591 million years ago, the planet's magnetic field weakened significantly, which could have led to higher levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Following this occurrence, we started to see animals in the fossil record that had unique shapes like fans, doughnuts, and tubes. These creatures marked the beginning of complex animal life on our planet.

Consequences

A turtle swims over bleached coral in the lagoon of Lady Elliot Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef off Australia in February.

A turtle swims over bleached coral in the lagoon of Lady Elliot Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef off Australia in February.

Rebecca Wright/CNN

The Great Barrier Reef and reef systems worldwide are being turned into silent marine graveyards by a rare event.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this is the fourth mass coral bleaching event caused by increasing ocean temperatures due to the climate crisis since the late 1990s.

Experts warn that marine heat waves are putting significant stress on corals, leading them to expel algae and lose their vibrant colors. This unprecedented die-off is alarming scientists.

Kate Quigley, a principal research scientist at Australia's Minderoo Foundation, compares the current situation in our oceans to underwater wildfires. She expresses concern that if warming continues unchecked, we may reach a tipping point from which recovery will be impossible.

Discoveries

Take your time exploring these new findings:

When predators attack, a dice snake tricks them by playing dead. It puts on a realistic show using gory special effects to stay safe.

The Dark Energy Camera snapped a stunning photo of a cosmic formation called "God's Hand" seemingly reaching for a helpless galaxy. However, this is actually a rare celestial event, not an aggressive gesture.

Boeing's Starling spacecraft historic crewed flight test has been postponed to at least May 17 due to a faulty valve that caused a delay in the launch attempt on Monday.

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Editor's P/S:

Beethoven's story is a testament to the power of resilience and creativity. Despite his physical ailments, he produced some of the world's most iconic music. His Ninth Symphony's fourth movement, "Ode to Joy," is a masterpiece that has inspired countless people.

The article also highlights the importance of scientific research in understanding the factors that influenced Beethoven's life and work. The analysis of his hair has provided valuable insights into his health struggles and may help us better understand how he turned his pain into music.