Irish researchers find oldest English-language poem in forgotten medieval tome

Researchers in Ireland marveled at their computer screen as they flipped through the digitized pages of a medieval book tracked down in a Roman library. Within them, they found their sought-after treasure: the oldest surviving English poem. “We were extremely surprised. We were speechless. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw that,” Elisabetta … Read more

600-year-old grape seed used to make pinot noir wine found in toilet of medieval hospital in France

A 600-year-old grape seed discovered in the toilet of a medieval French hospital is genetically identical to the grapes still being used to make pinot noir wine, scientists said Tuesday. The seed reveals that people in France have been cultivating this immensely popular variety of grape since at least the 1400s, the scientists said in … Read more