July 22, 2020 A new study shows that over half of the world’s population is exposed to 6 increasing air pollution, cleantechnica.com reported.

Ancient Greek tomb crammed with gold, silver and bronze ‘rewriting history’

Archeologists discovered a Bronze Age warrior’s tomb in south- western Greece filled with more than 3,500 objects including jewels, weapons, armor and bronze, silver and gold vessels shed- cientists have predicted for the first and lead author of the study. “But what bears have been forced to fast for too Molnár said. This includes the polar bears ding light on a period of history that has divided experts for years. time when, where and how polar was not fully clear was when we would long. And in western Hudson Bay, one in the vulnerable, southernmost ice areas Sbears are likely to disappear, warn- expect major declines in the survival and of the southernmost polar bear habitats, of western Hudson Bay, Davis Strait, and ing that if greenhouse gas emissions stay reproduction of polar bears that could the population has declined by roughly southern Hudson Bay. “But we would on their current trajectory all but a few ultimately lead to their extirpation. We 30 percent since 1987. have substantially more populations per- polar bear populations in the Arctic will didn’t know whether that would happen To figure out when bears might reach sisting by the end of the century, even probably be gone by 2100. early or later in this century.” their critical physiological limit, Mol- with reduced reproduction, compared By as early as 2040, it is very likely with a business-as-usual emissions sce- that many polar bears will begin to ex- nario.” perience reproductive failure, leading to The study examined 13 of the world’s local extinctions, according to a study 19 polar bear subpopulations, account- published in Nature Climate Change, the- ing for 80 percent of the total population guardian.com reported. of the species. Bears inhabiting an area The study examined how the bears will known as the Archipelago Ecoregion in express.co.uk be affected under two different green- the Canadian Arctic were not included as The grave was discovered by a research team sponsored by house gas emissions scenarios. The re- the geography of the area —islands and the University of Cincinnati and led by husband-and-wife arche- searchers found that under a business-as- narrow channels — made it too difficult ologists Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker near the ancient city of usual emissions scenario, polar bears will to predict future ice extent. Pylos. During the initial six-month excavation, which began in likely probably only remain in the Queen Of those studied populations, polar 2015, the research team uncovered an intact adult male skeleton Elizabeth Islands — the northernmost bears in southern Hudson Bay and Da- of an ancient Greek warrior and excavated 1,400 objects includ- cluster in Canada’s Arctic archipelago vis Strait in Canada are “very likely” to ing weapons, jewels, armor and silver and gold artefacts, express. — at the end of the century. And even if experience reproductive failure by 2040 co.uk reported. greenhouse gases are moderately miti- in a scenario of unmitigated emissions. Described as “one of the most exciting discoveries in Greece gated, it is still likely that the majority of Polar bears in much of Alaska and Rus- for decades,” the 30-35-year-old man has been dubbed the “Grif- polar bear populations in the Arctic will sia will be in serious trouble by 2080. fin Warrior” after an ivory plaque depicting the half-lion, half- experience reproductive failure by 2080. And by 2100, it’s inevitable that these eagle mythical beast that was found alongside him. Scientists estimated that there are few- populations will experience reproductive KATHARINA M MILLER/POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL But, it was the huge trove of artefacts found alongside him that er than 26,000 polar bears left, spread out Polar bears can fast for months, but their body condition and reproductive capacity diminish failure, leading to extinction if countries left the team stunned. across 19 different subpopulations that if forced to go too long without food. don’t drastically reduce emissions of Dr. Stocker said in 2015: “It is truly amazing that no ceramic range from the icescapes of Svalbard, heat-trapping gases. vessels were included among the grave gifts. Norway, to Hudson Bay in Canada to the Polar bears draw on energy reserves nár and his colleagues estimated how “It’s important to highlight that these “All the cups, pitchers and basins we found were of metal — Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Siberia. built up during the winter hunting sea- thin and fat polar bears can be and mod- projections are probably on the conser- bronze, silver and gold. Polar bears are unable to find enough sus- son to make it through lean summer eled the animals’ energy use to derive the vative side,” said Steven Amstrup, chief “He clearly could afford to hold regular pots of ceramic in dis- tenance on land and rely on sea ice from months on land or time spent on ice in threshold number of days they can fast scientist for Polar Bears International dain.” which to hunt. They often stake out seal unproductive waters. Though the bears before cub and adult survival rates de- and a coauthor of the study. The models, Also found among the treasure was a bronze mirror, six fine- breathing holes in the ice, waiting hours are used to fasting for months, their cline. Then they combined those thresh- he explained, may assume a better-than- toothed ivory combs and semi-precious stones such as amethyst, for a blubbery meal to break the surface. body condition, reproductive capacity olds with the projected number of future reality body condition of the bears at the agate and jasper revealing the man took pride in his appearance But as that sea ice declines because of cli- and survival will eventually diminish sea ice-free days to determine how popu- start of fasting periods. And the team and was not prepared to compromise on quality. mate change, so, too, will the polar bears. if they are forced to go too long with- lations will be affected in different parts used a cautious baseline estimate for how Gold goblets rested on the remains of his chest and stomach and “It’s been clear for some time that po- out food. In Alaska’s southern Beaufort of the Arctic. much energy a bear uses to maintain its close to his neck was a beautiful necklace featuring two pendants. lar bears are going to suffer under climate Sea population, biologists have already “Even if we mitigate emissions, we are body condition. “The impacts we project Dr. Davis said in 2015: “Whoever he was, he seems to have been change,” said Péter Molnár, a biologist at seen polar bear numbers drop 25-50 still going to see some subpopulations are likely to occur more rapidly than the celebrated for his trading or fighting in the nearby island of Crete.” the University of Toronto Scarborough, percent during low ice periods when the go extinct before the end of the century,” paper suggests.” The pair stumbled upon it almost by accident on the first day of a dig at the site of the Palace of Nestor, part of the ancient city of Pylos, which dates back to the Mycenaean era. The archeologists also found stone seals decorated with im- ages of Minoan-style human figures vaulting over bulls, as well High household energy use as goddesses and lions. Since 2015, the number of artefacts recovered from the grave has reached over 3,500, including a historically significant Mi- could thwart US emissions cuts: Study noan stone called the Pylos Combat Agate and four signet gold rings with detailed images from Minoan mythology. A house with a white picket Goldstein, a professor at the Uni- by US municipalities to tackle Archeologists have long debated the influence of the Minoan fence in the verdant suburbs has versity of Michigan. Develop- emissions from residential and civilization, which began to flourish in Crete around 2500 BCE long been an American dream. It ers might need to look for more commercial buildings, starting on the rise of Mycenaean society 1,000 years later. could also be a major hurdle for options in already dense settle- with banning the use of natu- Linear B tablets, bull horn symbols, and goddess figurines US chances of cutting climate- ments. Builders can consider re- ral gas in new construction. San found at Mycenaean sites like Pylos attest to the impact of Mi- warming emissions, researchers ducing floor spaces. And residen- Francisco is the latest city to pro- noan culture. at the University of Michigan tial buildings might reconsider pose such a measure. Based on archeological evidence of destruction, many schol- said in a study. using natural gas, a fossil fuel, for At the federal level, congres- ars believe that the Mycenaeans invaded and conquered Crete US households account for heating and cooking, he said. sional Democrats unveiled a cli- around 1450 BCE. one-fifth of the country’s to- Such measures may be espe- mate policy blueprint earlier this The burial provides vital clues to the origin of Greek civiliza- tal greenhouse gas emissions, cially important, given that more month that calls for an update tion some 3,500 years ago. thanks partly to Americans’ gen- than 100 million new homes are of building codes to eliminate The palaces found at Mycenae, Pylos, and elsewhere on the eral preference for bigger houses expected to be built in the next greenhouse gas emissions. Greek mainland have a common inspiration — all borrowed and spacious suburbs. Those 30 years, while the country’s 328 Builders say, however, that heavily from the Minoan civilization that arose on the large is- preferences also translated into million population is projected to home sizes have been trending land of Crete, southeast of Pylos. an emissions divide between the grow by more than a third in that downward since 2015, the year CARLO ALLEGRI /REUTERS The warrior’s grave may hold many answers as he died before rich and the poor, with wealthier time. An aerial view of The Villages retirement community in Central Florida, of focus in the study. the palaces began to be built, and his grave is full of artefacts households in recent years emit- Because the average lifespan US, on June 27, 2015 “Our surveys consistently show made in Crete. ting around 25 more than their of an American house is around that consumers want homes that Director of the Institute for Aegean Prehistory Study Centre lower-income counterparts in 40 years, the United States risks emissions from existing build- higher-per-capita energy use and are more energy efficient,” said for East Crete, Dr. Brogan noted: “This is a transformative mo- smaller homes, the researchers a “carbon lock-in” unless it com- ings, with measures like tax in- emissions. However, there were Liz Thompson, spokeswoman for ment in the Bronze Age.” said, Reuters reported. mits to more energy-efficient centives to spur retrofits, he said. also big differences depending the National Association of Home Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, To bring down the country’s homes and neighborhoods, the The study estimated energy on the US state: Household emis- Builders, the lobby group for the Dr. James Wright, added that the grave lies “at the heart of the re- future emissions, Americans researchers said. use by 93 million US homes, sions on both the East and West home construction industry. lationship of the mainland culture to the higher culture of Crete.” may need to rethink how they “We need to have denser and based on details from tax asses- coasts were far lower than in The group said, however, that He added that it will help scholars understand how the state live, said Benjamin Goldstein, a smaller homes,” said Goldstein, sor records for 2015 including states in the middle of the coun- the four-year trend toward small- cultures that developed in Crete were adopted into what became coauthor on the study published who said home sizes in the Unit- a house’s size, age, location and try, with North Dakota, Oklaho- er houses may end this year, as the Mycenaean palace culture on the mainland. in the journal Proceedings of the ed States and Canada are abnor- construction date. ma and Missouri having among people have spent more time at Dr. Wright noted: “Perhaps we can theorize that this site was National Academy of Sciences. mally large compared with other Through analyzing ZIP codes, the highest average household home during the COVID-19 pan- that of a rising chiefdom.” “Structural change is going to rich nations. the study revealed a correla- emissions. demic and may again seek bigger be important and necessary,” said Policies should also tackle tion between higher wealth and There is a growing movement spaces. Low number of arrivals dashes hopes for tourism in Cyprus

Fresh figures released by a Cypriot govern- in Cyprus in June and July, while the re- year, a total of 280,000 tourists arrived in But the association said it was confident ment official put a damper on hopes that the spective figure in the same two months of the island, or 15 percent of the 1.9 million that the tourism sector will overcome its country’s tourism industry would swiftly re- 2019 exceeded one million. who spent their holidays in Cyprus in the current difficulties and survive to become cover from the coronavirus pandemic. The completion of a Travel Card (Cyprus same period last year. the pillar of the Cypriot economy once Between June 9 (the relaxation of travel Flight Pass) is mandatory for all passengers Reflecting on the low number of book- again. restrictions) and July 15, only 69,000 peo- intending to travel to Cyprus. ings, the Cyprus’ Hoteliers Association said Tourism contributed around 21 percent ple applied for a permit to fly, and 4,000 of Kokkinos said that applications for a in a statement that “2020 can be written of Cyprus’ gross domestic product (GDP) them were turned down, mostly because Travel Card in the past week seemed to be off as far as tourism is concerned, particu- in 2019. they came from countries from where in- picking up, but he gave no details. larly in the Famagusta area, where hotels The hoteliers said that the low number of coming flights are still not allowed, Deputy During the five weeks under review, are suffering the effects of the coronavirus tourist arrivals is due to the fact that three Minister for Research, Innovation and Digi- more than 625,000 tourists would have vis- pandemic and the consequent travel restric- major markets for Cyprus — Britain, Rus- tal Policy Kyriakos Kokkinos, in charge of ited Cyprus under normal conditions, Kok- tions.” sia and Sweden — are still not included in planetware.com the Cyprus Flight Pass platform, said, xin- kinos said. It added that the messages coming from Group A, from where travelers are not re- Kourion Archeological Site is located on the west coast of Limassol huanet.com reported. Tourism statistics released up to now several sectors that rely on tourism to sur- quired to present a negative coronavirus test in the small town of Episkopi, Cyprus. He said that only 34,000 tourists arrived show that between January and June 15 this vive are not at all encouraging. before entering the country.