They convened in a white tent in the shadow of the restored remains of the ancient Ur ziggurat, or observatory.

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This is the sight ancient priests awaited every morning: their god returning from his jaguar form, and illuminating the observatory with his blessing.

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Chris Carilli, of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico, points out that the quasar-based method to measure the ancient value of alpha is at least 30 years old, and has never before resulted in a value different from today's alpha.

ECONOMIST: Fundamental physics