The lines on the 3D computer-generated skull might appear to be the guidelines of a surgeon preparing to operate. Markers denote the thickness of the soft tissue, the profile of the nose and a deformity near the jaw.
But this is not a patient set for plastic surgery. It is the outline scans of an ancient Egyptian mummy called Meresamun, whose face has been recreated despite her resting in an unopened sarcophagus at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
It is the work of a remarkable Brazilian – part artist, part scientist.
Cicero Moraes, 42, has rebuilt the faces of historical figures such as Beethoven, Mozart and Dante, as well as the "delicate, rounded" face of Egyptian pharoah Tutankhamun.
He recreated the face of 13th century Portuguese monk Anthony of Padua, and Latin America’s first saint, Rose of Lima. He has used the technique to create plastic limbs for injured animals, support police investigations and to help surgeons operating on real-life patients.
It is a hobby that began more than a decade ago after Moraes was grazed by a bullet in the head when he tried to protect his family from an armed robbery, and began experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Already a talented graphic designer, he taught himself how to do facial reconstructions, or “facial approximation”.
“I was always a ‘nerd’ who loved computer graphics and studying," Moraes told The National.
"To cope, I did what I’ve always done during difficult times: I immersed myself in studying something meaningful. At that moment, I felt a strong urge to learn about forensic facial approximation.
"I committed myself deeply, and two years later I was hired to perform 24 facial reconstructions for an exhibition in Padua, Italy – including the face of Saint Anthony of Padua.”
As his work grew, he was contacted by doctors and plastic surgeons preparing for highly complex facial reconstruction surgery, including cancer patients, and by the police requiring post-mortem identifications. He then moved on to historical figures before pulling off one of his most difficult assignments, an Egyptian mummy still inside her sarcophogus.
Moraes, who is based in the town of Sinop in the heart of Brazil, was captivated by the ancient Egyptian priestess Meresamu.
He was drawn to her life as a member of the Thebian elite who played a key cultural and spiritual role in her time, as well as the fact that the data from the CT scans had been put in the public domain for other researchers to use.
The symbols on her colourful coffin indicate she was a priestess and woman of high rank in the ancient city of Thebes, living about 800BC under the rule of Egypt's 22nd dynasty.
Her official title indicates she was a singer inside the Temple of Amun in Karnak near Luxor, and her name means “Amun Loves Her". The major Egyptian deity was thought to be the King of the Gods, and was fused with the Sun God Ra.
Her singing was so valued that after her death, she was depicted wearing a vulture headdress in an elaborately decorated sarcophagus.
Computed tomography (CT) scans by the University of Chicago, taken in 2012, allowed scientists to peer at the human remains wrapped in the papyrus. Those scans, which were made publicly available, were the basis for Moraes's reconstruction. He said the mummy was “remarkably well preserved”.
His technique involves arranging the skull in segments, applying markers for soft tissue, and then nasal and profile projections.
The resulting base face is then digitally sculpted. Soft tissue markers were applied to the 3-D scan of the skull to design the lips, nose and other features, guided by data from living people. A CT scan from a living donor was then combined with the resulting image, to reflect the mummy’s appropriate age, skin tone and texture.
Meresamun was given a fringe and bob haircut, inspired by ancient Egyptian art.
Moraes used estimates from the CT scans about the size of Meresamun’s head and her body weight. She is believed to have been shorter (1.47 metres) and with a larger head than the average women of her time.
It can take two weeks of full-time work to develop each facial reconstruction, and the software that he developed to do them is distributed for free.
Leaps and bounds in the available technology help make Moraes’s work more accurate, he explains. Attempts to rebuild Meresamun’s face began in 2009, using “manual or hybrid techniques, even when digital", he said.
Today, with specialised algorithms, increased computer power and robust anatomical libraries, a higher degree of anatomical simulation can be achieved.
“The final result is a serene and harmonious face, conveying dignity and subtlety. Aesthetic dramatisation was avoided in favour of anatomical plausibility and historical respect,” Moraes told The National.
No reconstruction can ever be like for like, he explains, as a “degree of speculation” is required, but the estimates that he used were “scientifically grounded”.
He claims he has no favourites out of the 150 reconstructions he has completed.
“I'll be honest, I like everything I've done because I somehow learn or execute something I appreciate.
“At 39, I was identified as a gifted and highly skilled person with an IQ of 142. IQ alone doesn't mean much, but the fact is that, thanks to this I was able to enter academia and make many formal publications about my work. Today, in addition to facial reconstructions, I do other research and develop a solution for human surgical planning, used by surgeons in 33 countries.
“Keeping my mind active is essential for me, and seeing projects being executed brings a lot of joy, especially when I make new friends, in the case of facial approximations, or when I see lives being restructured, as in the case of surgical planning.”
Moraes says that surgical planning is his greatest challenge as he is dealing with real lives and any error could put them at risk.
“Fortunately, everything has worked very well, and we have helped people from babies to the elderly with these tools.”
But a highlight of his career has been in 2016, when he made a prosthetic shell for a turtle who had lost hers from burns in a fire. He worked closely with a team of vets to reconstruct the old shell, which was then 3-D printed and placed on the turtle.
The method has also been used for prosthetic toucan, goose, parrot and macaw beaks.
Moraes said he often gets a "positive" response to his work, but that his reconstruction of religious figures have also sparked "intense debate". But that does not deter him. "Even so, these moments have led to open and enriching academic dialogue," he said.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
The%20Hunger%20Games%3A%20The%20Ballad%20of%20Songbirds%20%26%20Snakes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Francis%20Lawrence%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ERachel%20Zegler%2C%20Peter%20Dinklage%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Tom%20Blyth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
%3Cp%3E(Premier%20League%20only)%3Cbr%3EMohamed%20Salah%20129%3Cbr%3ERobbie%20Fowler%20128%3Cbr%3ESteven%20Gerrard%20120%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Owen%20118%3Cbr%3ESadio%20Mane%2090%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
Sour%20Grapes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZakaria%20Tamer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESyracuse%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E176%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
