Scientists solve 100-year-old ‘pharaoh’s curse’ that caused mysterious deaths |

For over a century, the ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’ has been a source of mystery and intrigue, often associated with the tomb of the young King Tutankhamun. Discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and his team, the tomb was rumored to carry a deadly curse that claimed the lives of more than 20 people connected to the excavation. Now, scientists claim to have solved this enigmatic puzzle, attributing the deaths not to supernatural forces but to a far more earthly cause: radiation.
The study, published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration by Ross Fellowes, suggests that high levels of radiation within King Tutankhamun’s tomb could be responsible for the series of unexplained deaths. This discovery undermines the long-standing belief in a supernatural curse and instead suggests the existence of harmful substances, such as radioactive elements like uranium, which could have retained their potency within the sealed tomb for more than 3,000 years.
The curse first gained notoriety after the death of Lord Carnarvon, the financial backer of the excavation, who died under mysterious circumstances shortly after the tomb’s opening. His demise, along with the subsequent deaths of others who had entered the tomb, fueled speculation of a curse that brought ill fortune or death to those who disturbed the Pharaoh’s eternal slumber.

However, the scientific explanation posits that these individuals were likely exposed to harmful levels of radiation, leading to serious health complications such as cancer. The study also notes a correlation between these elevated radiation levels and the high prevalence of blood, bone, and lymph cancers observed in both ancient and contemporary Egyptian populations, which are known to be associated with radiation exposure.
Moreover, the research suggests that this increased level of radioactivity may extend beyond just the tomb of King Tut. Measurements taken at other sites near the Giza pyramids and several underground tombs at Saqqara have also detected intense radioactivity. These findings suggest that the ancient Egyptians, perhaps unknowingly, were exposed to natural sources of radiation, which could explain the high incidence of certain cancers in the region.
Intriguingly, some theories propose that the ancient builders might have been aware of the dangers lurking within the tombs. Cryptic warnings inscribed on the walls, once thought to be curses, could have been misinterpreted. One such inscription ominously warns, “they that break this tomb shall meet death by a disease that no doctor can diagnose,” which could be a prescient reference to the lethal effects of radiation rather than a supernatural threat.
The resolution of the Pharaoh’s curse mystery strips away the layers of myth and superstition that have shrouded the tomb for decades. It underscores the importance of scientific inquiry in demystifying the past and provides a cautionary tale about the potential hazards that ancient sites may harbor.