Tattoos. Getting something inked permanently on your body is a major commitment. Body art can be incredible to behold. It can be poignant, and it can be funny. Sometimes, it’s the embarrassing, often-regretted reminder of a wild drunken night.

But sometimes, tattoos have fascinating scientific and historical meanings. Tattoos found on ancient Egyptian mummies or in Medieval graveyards shed light on the rituals of long-gone cultures. Scientists have proposed them as a way to track glucose levels, highlight tumors, and even keep vaccine records. Here are ten of the most interesting tattoo stories from recent years and the beguiling backstories behind the body art.

Related: Top 10 Fascinating Examples Of Cultural Body Modification

10 Unlocking the Secrets of Ötzi the Iceman

In 1991, researchers unearthed the mummified remains of a 5,300-year-old man in the Alps, preserved in a glacier. They called him Ötzi the Iceman and were stunned to discover 61 carbon markings covering his body.

But how were these primitive tattoos made? Scientists have various theories, from rubbing soot into cuts to setting plant matter on fire under the skin. But in 2022, a team of scientists and tattoo artists decided to put these ideas to the test. They used four different techniques to inscribe the same image onto the leg of Danny Riday, a tattoo artist from New Zealand.

The group was keen to recreate the motif using tools that would have been available at the time. Their experiment involved animal bone, obsidian, and boar tusk—along with techniques like hand-tapping and hand-poking.

After creating a database of markings on Riday’s leg, the team decided that Otzi’s tattoos seemed to come from hand-poking with a single-pointed tool. “We ultimately proposed that Ötzi’s tattoos were made by puncture, likely using either a bone or copper awl,” explained archaeologist Aaron Deter-Wolf.^[1]

9 Why Doctors Might Choose to Mark your Colon

When you think of getting a tattoo, the colon isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But there is a good reason why a doctor might decide to ink your innards. If a patient has lesions and small cuts inside the body, tattoos can help mark the areas for surgeons. These tattoos are typically carbon black. But they often leak and cause unwanted side effects.

But in 2022, scientists in the American Chemical Society announced a new type of colon tattoo ink based on biomaterial. The colorant is made from nanoparticles and polymers, which help with visibility and precision. Tests on pig innards and live mice showed improved results.

The team hopes to use their ink on humans to help with the safer removal of polyps and tumors. And why stop at the colon? If the precision is high enough, they say that tattoos could mark tumors across the gut or even the pancreas.^[2]

8 Color Changing Inks That Track Glucose Levels

For people who suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, it’s vital to keep track of the body’s internal biomarkers. Whether it’s glucose, albumin, or pH levels, you have to monitor them vigilantly. In 2019, scientists in Germany unveiled a new way to track those levels: color-changing tattoos.

So far, the novel inks have been tested on pig skin, not humans, but they’ve displayed impressive results. The tattoos danced across the color spectrum as researchers altered the biomarker levels. Unfortunately, only the pH sensor is reversible, meaning the glucose and albumin are only single use. But it’s a promising start for a new form of technology that could revolutionize the future of medical diagnostics.^[3]

7 Medieval Christian Body Art Found in Africa

Archaeologists unearthed a rare find in Sudan: a medieval man with Christian body art. The tattoo on his right foot shows four Greek letters. Chi and rho are combined to form a Christogram, a shortened monogram of Christ’s name. The other two are alpha and omega, which signify that God is the creator and destroyer.

Researchers found the religious remains while exploring the site of Ghazali, a 7th-century monastery in the Bayuda Desert. There are hundreds of graves across four cemeteries, including the one containing the inked worshiper. Northeast Africa has a rich history of Christianity. Roman trade routes brought the religion to the region. It later became a commanding belief under the Kingdom of Makuria.^[4]

6 Tattooing Mouse Embryo Cells with Gold Dots

In 2023, scientists revealed a new method to tattoo gold onto living tissue. The extraordinary procedure is known as nanoimprint lithography. Engineers in the U.S. “poked” gold nanodots and nanowires into fibroblast cells from a mouse embryo.

The bedazzled mice cells look impressive, and this discovery could be a new frontier in healthcare. “If you imagine where this is all going in the future, we would like to have sensors to remotely monitor and control the state of individual cells and the environment surrounding those cells in real time,” explained David Gracias, who led the study. “If we had technologies to track the health of isolated cells, we could maybe diagnose and treat diseases much earlier and not wait until the entire organ is damaged.”^[5]

5 Dutch Actress Is First Person to Be Tattooed by a Robot

As well as being a star of stage and screen in Holland, Stijn Fransen has another, much stranger boast under her belt. In 2021, she received the first-ever tattoo from a robot. Artist Wes Thomas performed the tattoo remotely on a mannequin arm. His movements were linked via 5G to a robotic arm, which carried out the procedure on Fransen.

Luckily, they didn’t just rush in gung ho. Technologist Noel Drew spent six weeks devising the robotic arm. This involved trialing it on several mediums and materials, including vegetables. Sensors in the needle ensured it didn’t pierce the skin too deeply.

The artwork itself is fairly minimalist, but this world-first is an impressive feat of engineering nonetheless.^[6]

4 Quantum Dot Acts as Vaccine ID

In 2019, MIT researchers unveiled a novel idea to keep track of vaccinated children: quantum dot tattoos. The idea is to record a patient’s jabs in their skin rather than relying on paper or electronic documents. Vaccine cards often go missing, especially in poorer parts of the world, and digital records are not always an option. So tiny tattoos, only visible under certain filters, may hold the answer.

The MIT team came up with a special ink made from tiny quantum dots that reflect light. These dots are injected into the skin in patterns along with the vaccine. The patterns are usually invisible, but they glow under infrared light. This allows medical professionals to read the vaccine records using an app and filter.

The quantum dot ink is still in its early stages. But tests on rats yielded promising results. As researcher Robert Langer told reporters, “It’s possible someday that this ‘invisible’ approach could create new possibilities for data storage, biosensing, and vaccine applications that could improve how medical care is provided, particularly in the developing world.”^[7]

3 Are Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tattoos Linked to Pregnancy?

The Ancient Egyptians were no strangers to body art. Scientists have uncovered several tattooed mummies over the years. The site of Deir el-Medina on the bank of the Nile seems to be a hotspot for inked remains. Among the finds are two women with lower back tattoos, one unearthed around 100 years ago and the other in 2019. The first woman had a string of diamonds drawn just above her buttocks, while the second was adorned with images of water and plants.

Researchers believe this ancient symbolism is in some way linked to reproduction. The water and plants, they say, could depict the shore on the Nile, where pregnant or menstruating women would soothe themselves. Other female mummies have tattoos on their necks and hips, suggesting a further link to fertility. Another mummy was found to have what scientists believe is Bes, the god and protector of pregnant women, on her hip. Whatever the reason, these discoveries help us look closer at the cultures and customs of these fascinating ancient peoples.^[8]

2 Tattooing Mind-Reading Electrodes into the Human Skull

E-tattoos that can read your brainwaves might sound like something out of science fiction, but one tech startup wants to make that a reality. Brain Scientific is working on a highly specialized type of tattoo made from tiny electrodes that are implanted into the skull. This e-tattoo picks up neural signals using a postage stamp-sized processor that clips behind the ear.

Co-founder and executive chairman Baruch Goldstein hopes his digital tattoos could change the face of medical research. He says his devices would allow doctors to receive data about a patient’s brain activity in real-time. This would aid in the study of neurological conditions. The current major project of Brain Scientific is trying to find the brain patterns that lie behind epileptic seizures.

“We are trying to predict when a seizure can happen,” Goldstein explained. “It is too still premature to say what the results will be, but these are more or less our goals: Just to predict when the seizure will happen so you can get medicine that might prevent it.”^[9]

1 World’s Oldest Tattoo Tools Made from Bird Bones

Sharpened turkey bones found in an ancient Native American grave are, according to experts, the oldest tattoo tools ever discovered. The primitive inking gear dates back to 3500-1600 BC. The bones were found in 1985 in Fernvale, Tennessee, but until recently, scientists were unaware of their likely use in tattooing human skin.

This all changed when researchers inspected small amounts of pigment found in the artifacts. The team used incredibly detailed analysis techniques, including a microscope with 140 times magnification. They identified the two types of pigment: red and black. The red was found to be iron oxide, while the black was based on carbon. Both pigments are known to be traditional tattooing materials.

This landmark study suggests that the custom of body art dates back further than previously thought. Before this, the earliest known tool was a 2,000-year-old cactus spine device found in Utah.^[10]

Mathematics is the study of structure, order, and relation based on the basic concepts of counting and measuring. We’ve come a long way from just using it to count and measure things, however, as math now forms the basis for many advanced fields of scientific study, from thermodynamics to rocket science to bionanotechnology. All of these advances have been made possible by groundbreaking discoveries and inventions by thinkers, scientists and mathematicians throughout history. 

10. Cartesian Geometry

Also sometimes called analytical geometry, Cartesian geometry was pioneered by René Descartes in the 17th century. It was a groundbreaking moment in mathematics that, for the first time, brought algebra and geometry together. 

Descartes first introduced the concept of Cartesian coordinates in his Discours de la méthode, or the ‘Discourse on Method’ published in 1637. He proposed that each point in a two-dimensional plane can be described by two numbers, which could then be used to represent its horizontal and vertical locations, respectively. This coordinate system provided a way to solve equations both algebraically and graphically, playing a key role in the subsequent development of calculus by Newton and Leibniz.

9. Binary System

With a base of ‘2’ and using only two digits, 0 and 1, the binary system is the most simple number system still in use today, though it’s perhaps the most influential. It’s used in computer memory, where calculations are only made up of two states – off and on – or bits. This basic system forms the basis for almost all digital communication today, making it one of the most important inventions in the history of mathematics and computers. 

The concept was proposed and perfected by many scientists and mathematicians, primarily Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz – a 17th-century German mathematician and philosopher who is also known for his co-invention of calculus. In 1701, Leibniz published his binary system in the paper Essay d’une nouvelle science des nombres, which ensured his election to the Paris Academy. 

8. Difference And Analytical Engines

Charles Babbage is also known as the ‘father of the computer’ for his pioneering discoveries in mathematics, primarily the 19th century invention of computing devices called the Difference Engine and Analytical Engine. The Difference Engine was designed to calculate mathematical tables using finite differences, allowing basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It laid the foundation for modern computers and was the first automatic calculating engine in history.

The Analytical Engine, on the other hand, was a much more ambitious and versatile machine. Invented in 1834, it was a general-purpose programmable computing device that went beyond the limited capabilities of the Difference Engine, as it used punched cards for data manipulation and storage – a concept borrowed from the Jacquard loom. The Analytical Engine also introduced innovative features like conditional branching and looping, which allowed it to execute different instructions based on previous results and repeat specific series of operations.

7. Turing Machine

The Turing machine was a hypothetical device conceptualized by English mathematician Alan M. Turing in 1936. It’s an infinitely extendable tape divided into squares, each bearing a blank or finite number of symbols. With a tape head that can read, write, move, and modify squares, the Turing machine can – theoretically speaking – follow instructions stored in its control mechanism. 

Although the Turing machine was a theoretical tool, it laid the groundwork for all modern digital computers. Turing’s abstraction of computation and logical processing into distinct steps formed the basis for all subsequent digital computational devices. The architecture of input-output devices – like the tape and reader – memory, and central processing units closely mirror the essential features of the Turing machine. It introduced the basic elements of information processing and opened the door for building programmable machines capable of complex calculations and logical operations.

6. Infinity

The concept of infinity has a long and complex history within both mathematics and philosophy. Greek philosophers like Aristotle first explored the idea in ancient times, but it was the Indian mathematician Surya Prajnapti who first categorized different types of infinities into enumerable, innumerable, and infinite sets. It wasn’t until the 17th century, however, that European mathematicians like John Wallis and Georg Cantor began incorporating it in their work, giving it the form modern mathematicians use till today. 

John Wallis, an English mathematician, invented the symbol for infinity in 1655, followed by Georg Cantor – a German mathematician – who made major contributions to understanding infinity. He defined different levels of the concept, proving that not all infinities are the same size or type. Cantor would go on to introduce the concept of ‘infinity in infinities’ and develop the theory of infinite sets in calculus.

5. Newton’s Calculus

Isaac Newton is still regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of mathematics, largely due to his invention of calculus in the mid to late 1660s that revolutionized the field and paved the way for further advancements in science and engineering. 

Calculus, made up of differential and integral calculus, allows for the study of the rate of change of quantities over time. Newton’s work on gravity and laws of motion in physics directly led to his development of this new mathematical framework. Today, calculus has applications across disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and pure mathematics, among other specialized sub-fields. Fields of study like trend analysis, engineering, medical sciences, and motion-related studies heavily rely on calculus for precise calculation and prediction. 

4. Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean theorem is a fundamental geometric theorem that has had a major impact on mathematics and other scientific fields of study throughout history. It states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides is equal to the square of the longest side. 

While the discovery is commonly associated with the Greek mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras, some evidence suggests that the concept predates him, with Babylonian tablets from 1900-1600 BC featuring some understanding of the theorem and Pythagorean triples. The concept also appears in the Baudhayana Sulba-sutra of India – an important mathematical treatise written between 800 and 400 BC. Despite its earlier origins, Pythagoras is often credited with the discovery due to the influence of his school in Croton, Italy.

3. Zero

The invention of zero was another huge milestone of mathematics we don’t really think about, revolutionizing our understanding of numbers and leading to every major advancement in various fields that rely on math. It first showed up in the Bakhshali manuscript – an ancient Indian mathematical document dating back to the third or fourth century. Thinkers and mathematicians in previous civilizations did employ positional number systems before it, though the lack of a proper definition of zero led to difficulties in calculations and made the representation of fractions nearly impossible.

Since its discovery, zero has become a crucial placeholder digit in number systems, allowing for easier arithmetic and complex mathematical calculations. Zero facilitated the development of graphing techniques, calculus, and algorithms, among many other concepts fundamental to our modern understanding of mathematics, thanks to its dual role as both an abstraction and a tangible concept. 

2. Algebra

The invention of algebra is often attributed to Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi – a Persian mathematician born in the eighth century AD in the city of Khwarazm in modern-day Uzbekistan. He lived during a time when the Muslim empire, under the rule of the early Abbasid caliphs, was at its height during a period called the Golden Age of Islam, with Baghdad as its scientific and cultural capital. 

He’d go on to make many important contributions to various mathematical fields, including arithmetic, trigonometry, and astronomy. Al-Khwarizmi’s most significant achievement, however, was his seminal work, al-Kit?b al-Mukhta?ar f? ?is?b al-Jabr wal-Muq?balah, or ‘The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing’, which is where the word ‘algebra’ comes from. 

1. Euclidean Geometry

Euclidean geometry is named after Greek mathematician Euclid, living around 300 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. At its most basic, it’s the study of plane and solid figures based on axioms and theorems, introduced and detailed in his most famous work Elements. It largely consists of Euclid’s compilation of all the known mathematics of his time, along with some of his own theories and discoveries.

Because of the importance of his work, Euclid is still referred to as the ‘father of geometry’. Until the development of non-Euclidean geometry in the 19th century, Elements formed the standard for all mathematical and geometrical thinking around the world, covering a wide range of topics like plane geometry, number theory, and the study of solid figures.

In May 1914, The Times of London, England, reported: “If all goes well with this invention, we shall soon be able, it seems, to see people at a distance.” The newspaper referred to an instrument an English inventor, Archibald Low, had come up with called a Televista. Low’s Televista was the most sophisticated device of the day, but it was a long way from being anything we would recognize as a television. And Low was not the only one working in the field.

No single person can be credited with the invention; many people contributed. A Scot, John Logie Baird, demonstrated a working system at Selfridge’s Department Store in London in 1925. In the United States, Charles Francis Jenkins was making great advances in the same year, and in Japan, Kenjiro Takayanagi demonstrated a system with much-improved resolution in 1926.

The world’s first TV station—W2XB—started broadcasting from New York City in 1928. The idea that television would be a vehicle for mass entertainment didn’t occur to these pioneers-that would have to wait until after the Second World War.

The examples here are sandwiched between Queen Elizabeth’s coronation and her funeral. In her long reign, she witnessed the growth of television from a relatively minor, expensive luxury to the ever-present phenomenon it is today. She also witnessed the following groundbreaking moments.

Related: Top 10 Iconic Moments From The History Of Music

10 Elizabeth Takes Up the Crown

People needed something to cheer them up in a country still feeling the effects of World War II. What better than a pageant like a royal coronation? The queen demonstrated that she understood the medium’s power by insisting that the BBC could place cameras inside Westminster Abbey—something that her advisors insisted would detract from the mystery of the monarchy. But Elizabeth was not interested in mystery. She wanted to be the figurehead of a united Commonwealth.

Twenty million people watched Queen Elizabeth’s coronation live on June 2, 1953. In Britain, viewers crowded into neighbors’ houses, pubs, and cinemas to enjoy the spectacle. For the first time, more people watched a TV program than listened to a radio broadcast.

In the United States, 85 million Americans watched recorded highlights, eager to see the mysterious ceremony that had alluded so many for so long.

9 The First Step

Using a 30-line mechanical system, the BBC broadcast its first program in August 1932. John Logie Baird made an appearance to thank the corporation, and “lookers-in” (as viewers were called) also saw a performing sea lion, a demonstration of ju-jitsu, and other bits and pieces.

Our clip shows that the USA then took things a little further. At the beginning of the program, the two RCA men stress that there are still a lot of technical problems to overcome. Interestingly, they mention that television has an educational role and would be an extension of radio rather than a threat to radio.

The production quality of this program is surprisingly good, and the two men are confident that this is just the beginning. Perhaps the greatest problem would be how to make television receivers affordable.

8 Walter Cronkite Announces JFK’s Assassination

We’ve probably all seen the famous footage of the assassination of JFK in 1963. But the film was not from live TV coverage—Abraham Zapruder recorded the part of the motorcade that he could see on silent 8mm film. TV crews were waiting for President Kennedy to arrive at the Dallas Trade Mart.

Nobody thought the motorcade was important enough to call for live coverage. In hindsight, this was a pity, given the amount of speculation that is still going on about what happened that day. Reporters were quick to phone in the news. Around 70% of Americans heard about the event within half an hour of it happening.

Our clip shows how Walter Cronkite handled the news of President Kennedy’s death when sources confirmed that the President had died. Many people considered Cronkite “the most trusted man in America.” His professionalism comes through in this clip. He is affected by the news, and we can see that, but he doesn’t let his emotions get the better of him. After a short pause, he finishes the bulletin with calm confidence.

Many people knew that Kennedy had been shot, but they had no idea how serious it was. Many people heard the news that he had died from Cronkite.

7 Doctor Who?

On a more frivolous note, the day after Kennedy’s assassination, the BBC released the first episode of Doctor Who. The Time Lord is still going strong today and has an enormous international cult following.

Looking back at old episodes, the props seem amateurish and obviously fake. But the program always had (and still has) strong plot lines, a good cast, and an engaging touch of humor. The technical quality of the programs has, of course, improved beyond measure, but the program still retains its tongue-in-cheek touch.

Who can forget the first time they saw a Dalek? I can’t—at the age of seven, I hid behind the sofa!

6 Neil Armstrong on the Moon

For those of us who are old enough to remember the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon’s surface is an unforgettable moment. We seemed to be on the verge of conquering space; science fiction was suddenly real.

In 1961, President Kennedy set the goal of reaching the moon before the end of the sixties. Considering the available technology, it must have seemed an impossible task to most people. But the men and women of NASA buckled down to the job and delivered spectacularly.

When Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the face of the moon, he stated, “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong himself actually said the above was a misquote, reported on every news channel of the time. He later stated, “That’s one small step for a man…”. But, given that Armstrong’s transmission was from 238,900 miles away, I think we can forgive the media this once!

For many years, the Soviets claimed they had never been interested in a manned mission to the moon and said that the U.S. was wasting money and taking risks for theatrical reasons. In fact, we now know that they did want to beat the United States there and lost out.

5 Challenger Explodes

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger set off on its mission from the Cape Canaveral launch facility in Florida. It reached a height of 46,000 feet before its solid rocket booster exploded and blew the whole assembly apart. The crew of seven was killed. Although there is evidence that some survived the initial explosion, there was no way of escaping the disintegrating craft.

A tragedy under any circumstances, but this was perhaps made even worse by the fact that the Challenger was carrying a school teacher, Christa McAuliffe, and many of her schoolchildren were eagerly watching the launch.

Two o-ring seals had failed; they were made brittle by unseasonably cold weather at the launch pad. Pressurized gas leaked out, a propellant tank was damaged, and the contents ignited. The spacecraft twisted, and aerodynamic forces ripped it apart. The crew had no chance.

Space programs carry risks, and, unfortunately, accidents happen. We learn a little more from each one.

4 The Simpsons’ First Appearance

On April 19, 1987, The Tracey Ullman Show ran a short featuring some new animated characters. It was the start of a phenomenon that is still going strong today. The intelligent scripts, the well-defined characters, and the irreverent humor redefined animation.

The Simpsons appeals to young and old alike. Some may disapprove and believe that it’s not suitable for young children. It’s certainly true that The Simpsons is not very politically correct, that Homer drinks too much beer, and isn’t the brightest of men. But the family is strong and united. The values that the program promotes are values that we all should share. Love and loyalty are not the least among them.

A poll in Great Britain revealed that The Simpsons were more popular than the British royal family. A show that seems to be very American is widely watched all over the world. It hits all the right notes.

3 Breaching the Berlin Wall

After the Second World War, military power was divided into two camps. The West was led by the United States, and the East by the Soviet Union. The relationship between the two powers had moments of relative calm but many more moments of high tension. With both having enough nuclear weapons to wipe us all out, it’s no wonder that people often worried about the future.

When the Soviet system collapsed—demonstrated by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989—it seemed that a new era might be possible. Most who witnessed East Germans freely crossing into West Germany believed that they were seeing something truly groundbreaking on live TV, and they truly were.

The political map is different now, but perhaps, things haven’t worked out as we hoped. In many ways, when there were only two players on the stage, things were simpler. The world looks a lot more complicated these days.

2 A Long Time Coming

The American drama series Dawson’s Creek ran for six seasons starting in 1998. The popular show followed the fortunes of Dawson and his pal, Joey, as they went through their teenage years together. The clip we have here aired in 2000 and shows the first ever gay male kiss to be aired on television. Women were a little ahead—LA Law had shown two women kissing in 1991.

Television producers want to make their shows as popular as possible and know that their potential viewers have a wide range of beliefs and opinions. They were sometimes reluctant to take risks and sometimes ended up behind the times.

The rise of streaming platforms and greater choices for viewers has led producers to be a little more adventurous.

1 Elizabeth at Rest

On September 19, 2022, Britain stood a standstill in recognition of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Some estimates suggest that around 4.1 billion people saw the event. If this is right (and there are some questions about how the figure was calculated), then over half the world’s population watched—making it the biggest live event ever on television.

We started our list with the pomp of a coronation and closed it now with the solemnity of a funeral. In her 70 years on the throne, Elizabeth saw many changes. Television has reflected those changes and, sometimes, helped spark them.