On August 10, the journal Remote Sensing officially retracted a study by researchers Filippo Biondi and Corrado Malanga regarding hidden structures in the Great Pyramid of Giza. The decision follows a formal investigation into the paper's statistical inaccuracies and flawed methodology.
The failure of the 'crystal transparency' radar method
The researchers, Filippo Biondi and Corrado Malanga, utilized a technique known as synthetic aperture radar doppler tomography to argue they could map the Pyramid of Khufu without physical entry. They famously described their methodology as a way to observe the monument "as if it were transparent like a crystal."
However, as the journal Remote Sensing reported, the study contained serious methodological errors that invalidated its conclusions. A significant scientific hurdle remains the fact that electromagnetic waves have poor penetration within solid bodies, meaning the satellite data used by the team likely could not have imaged interior structures at such extreme depths.
Claims of 648-meter shafts and an 'underground city'
In March 2025, the research team held a news conference claiming to have identified five connected structures and eight cylindrical shafts near the base of the Pyramid of Khafre. These shafts were allegedly 648 meters deep,surrounded by spiral passages and leading toward large, cube-shaped formations.
These findings fueled intense online speculation regarding a potential "underground city" beneath the Giza Plateau, a narrative that even attracted the attention of YouTuber MrBeast. Despite the viral nature of these claims, the reported features had not been published in a peer-reviewed format nor independently verified by outside experts.
Zahi Hawass and the lack of official permission
Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass has dismissed the researchers' announcements, noting that the team had not obtained permission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities to work near the Pyramid of Khafre. According to the report, Hawass emphasized that there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the alleged shafts or chambers.
The tension between the researchers and the archaeological community highlights a growing conflict between remote sensing technology and traditional fieldwork. while satellite imaging offers new perspectives, experts argue that without on-site corroboration, such data remains speculative rather than scientific.
Who will verify the unproven claims of Biondi and Malanga?
While the journal has officially retracted the paper, Biondi and Malanga have expressed disagreement with the decision. It remains unclear whether the researchers will provide new, peer-reviewed evidence to support their claims or if they will continue to rely on unverified press conferences to reach the public.
Several specific questions remain unanswered by the current reporting.. First, it is unknown if the researchers will respond to the multiple requests for comment made by Newsweek and Retraction Watch. Second, the scientific community has yet to determine if the "Big Void"—a cavity previously detected via cosmic-ray scans—was misrepresented or conflated with the researchers' own flawed radar data .
Comments 0