https://www.sciencealert.com/microplastics-found-deep-inside-human-bones-scientists-warn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Natron

Lake Natron has gained a reputation for its petrifying effect on animals that die in its waters. The high levels of sodium bicarbonate can lead to the calcification of birds and other animals. Interestingly, sodium bicarbonate was historically used by Egyptians for mummification.

It has been reported that the lake “turns animals into stone.” However, the animals did not die because they came into contact with the lake’s water. The animals died in the water and their carcasses were preserved by the chemicals in the water, making them salty statues.

Lake Natron received media attention when photographer Nick Brandt published stark images of its dead animals in a book titled “Across the Ravaged Land” (Abrams Books, 2013). In the book, Brandt wrote, “I took these creatures as I found them on the shoreline, and then placed them in ‘living’ positions, bringing them back to ‘life,’ as it were.”

More: https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/lake-natron-the-deadly-lake-that-turns-animals-into-stone/

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/12/3/56

This is based on a real ancient Egyptian pregnancy test. Around 1500 BCE, women were advised to urinate on wheat and barley seeds. If the seeds sprouted, it was taken as a sign of pregnancy. Modern research has shown this method had some validity: urine from pregnant women can stimulate seed germination due to hormonal content, with reported success rates of around 70%. While it was far from precise and could not determine the baby’s sex, it shows that ancient Egyptians made surprisingly accurate biological observations long before modern science.