Discovering new dimensions of human history as scientists x-ray the Amazon
- sciart0
- Apr 10
- 1 min read
Excerpt: "Using a laser technology known as lidar, Zimpel and his team have rediscovered the lost Portuguese colony — finding an intricate urban system of canals, roads and military fortifications, and the remains of stone structures.
The breakthrough, announced in October, was the latest example of how lidar is ushering in a new era of discovery in the Amazon.
The laser sensor, which can be mounted on an airplane or drone, have given scientists the equivalent of X-ray vision, enabling them to puncture the forest’s dense canopy like never before, and reveal the secrets of the world’s largest rainforest."