Old world was very fond of battle. Always finding the ways that how to win. Mycenaean armor, dating from the late Bronze Age (circa 1600-1100 BCE), is a testament to the advanced metallurgical and martial skills of the Mycenaean civilization, which flourished in ancient Greece. The most notable example is the Dendra panoply, a complete set of bronze armor discovered in a tomb at Dendra. This armor includes a full-body cuirass made of bronze plates, protecting the torso, back, and shoulders, and is complemented by a boar’s tusk helmet, which was common in Mycenaean warfare. Protect a person in full.

What was the construction type? The construction of Mycenaean armor reflects the society’s emphasis on both protection and mobility in combat. The use of bronze, a durable and relatively lightweight material, allowed warriors to maintain a balance between defense and maneuverability on the battlefield. Such armor indicates the hierarchical nature of Mycenaean society, with heavily armored warriors likely being elite soldiers or nobles. The craftsmanship and resources required to produce this armor suggest a sophisticated and organized society with specialized skills and extensive trade networks to acquire the necessary materials.

A 3,500-year-old suit of Mycenaean armor, long thought to be purely ceremonial, may have actually seen battle, according to recent studies. This remarkable piece of military gear, exemplified by the Dendra panoply, includes a bronze cuirass and a boar’s tusk helmet, signifying a high degree of craftsmanship and functional design. While earlier interpretations suggested such armor was primarily for display or ritual due to its elaborate and seemingly impractical nature, new evidence points to its use in actual combat. Wear patterns, repairs, and strategic design elements like mobility-enhancing features indicate that Mycenaean warriors utilized this armor on the battlefield. The use of durable yet lightweight bronze allowed for effective protection without severely hindering movement, suggesting that Mycenaean warfare was more dynamic and physically demanding than previously understood. This shift in perspective underscores the sophistication of Mycenaean military practices and their ability to integrate ceremonial grandeur with practical combat needs.

Why they were famous? The Mycenaean military was a formidable force in the late Bronze Age, demonstrating significant power and influence across the Aegean and beyond from circa 1600 to 1100 BCE. This strength was rooted in their advanced weaponry, such as bronze swords, spears, and sophisticated armor like the Dendra panoply. The Mycenaeans also employed well-constructed chariots, which were crucial for both warfare and rapid movement. Their fortified citadels, like those at Mycenae and Tiryns, featured massive “Cyclopean” walls, indicating a society highly skilled in defensive architecture.

The Mycenaeans’ military prowess extended through extensive trade networks and strategic alliances, which helped them exert influence over the Aegean region, including parts of the Greek mainland, Crete, and Anatolia. Their ability to organize large-scale military expeditions, such as those depicted in Homeric epics, underscores their strategic and logistical capabilities. This combination of advanced technology, strategic infrastructure, and expansive reach highlights the significant power and influence of the Mycenaean military during their time.

In the remote and inhospitable landscape of Inuit Qeqertaat, also known as Kaffeklubben Island, lies one of the most northern stretches of land accessible to humans on Earth. Situated on the northern coast of Greenland, this desolate terrain consists of dark gray gravel merging with frozen sea ice, presenting a stark and unforgiving environment. The northern coast of Greenland stands as a rugged and formidable frontier, characterized by its stark beauty and extreme conditions. Here, amidst the vast expanse of icy waters and towering glaciers, lies a landscape that embodies the raw power and resilience of nature. The coastline, etched with rugged cliffs and frozen fjords, serves as a gateway to the Arctic wilderness, offering a glimpse into one of the world’s most remote and pristine regions. Despite its harsh environment, the northern coast of Greenland is not devoid of life; it is home to a diverse array of Arctic wildlife, from polar bears and seals to seabirds and marine mammals, all adapted to thrive in this unforgiving realm of ice and snow.

Despite its harsh conditions, this remote outpost holds a unique allure for climate change researchers and explorers seeking to understand the ecological dynamics of Earth’s northernmost regions.

In an ambitious endeavor to uncover the secrets of this extreme environment, a team led by climate change researchers Brian Buma and Jeff Kerby embarked on an expedition to survey the region. Their mission yielded remarkable discoveries, including the presence of plant life defying the odds of survival in such a hostile landscape. Among the resilient flora found were specimens of Tortula mucronifolia, a species of moss known as the world’s northernmost plant, as well as striking yellow and lime-green Arctic poppies (Papaver radicatum), flourishing just south of the moss. These findings offer valuable insights into the adaptability of life in extreme environments and highlight the importance of studying remote regions like Inuit Qeqertaat in understanding the impacts of climate change on global biodiversity.

A bison herd is a social group of bison, primarily composed of females and their young, with males typically forming smaller bachelor groups or remaining solitary outside the mating season. These herds, known for their migratory behavior, move across the plains in search of food and water, playing a crucial role in maintaining prairie ecosystems through their grazing patterns. Bison communicate through vocalizations and body language and engage in behaviors such as wallowing to manage parasites and shed fur. Once nearly driven to extinction due to overhunting and habitat loss, bison populations have rebounded thanks to extensive conservation efforts. These herds are vital for ecological health, contributing to soil aeration and plant diversity. Bison also hold significant cultural importance for many Indigenous peoples, symbolizing strength and resilience, and remain an emblem of successful conservation in North America.

Are cattle not as harmful to the climate as assumed? According to a study, a bison herd in Romania stores as much CO2 as 123,000 gasoline engines emit per year. But can this be transferred to other regions? Cattle are considered “climate killers” due to the greenhouse gas methane produced during digestion. Compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), its effect in the atmosphere is said to be far less harmful than previously assumed. However, it is probably less known that cattle can also act as CO2 vacuum cleaners – and on a huge scale. At least that’s what researchers led by Oswald J. Schmitz from the School of the Environment at Yale University have found out. According to their study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Bio geosciences, the bison herd they studied absorbs as much CO2 each year as is emitted by 43,000 U.S. cars or 123,000 European vehicles.

Specifically, it is 54,000 tons of CO2. Of course, these are not absorbed by the animals themselves, but by the ecosystem in which they live. In this case it is an area of ​​around 50 square kilometers in the Romanian Tarcu Mountains. Bison have been released here since 2014. The herd has now grown to 170 animals. There would be space for 350 to 450 bison in the area. Previously, there had been no wild bison in Romania for over 200 years. Bison play an important role in ecosystems, as researcher Schmitz explains to the Guardian . “Their grazing and browsing help maintain a species-rich landscape of forests, scrub, grasslands and microhabitats.”

Schmitz therefore describes the bison as “climate heroes”. But: The climate-protecting effect of wild bison cannot per se be transferred to other regions. This is because the grasslands of the Carpathians have special soil and climatic conditions. The American prairies, for example, have much lower productivity, says Schmitz. The bison are not the only animals that could contribute to climate protection after being released into the wild in previously traditional areas. According to the Guardian, the researchers examined nine species in more detail, including elephants, musk oxen and sea otters.