Terracotta figurines depicting ancient Greek gods along with men, women, and animals found in Turkey. Credit: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. https://basin.ktb.gov.tr/
A recent archaeological discovery in Turkey resulted in the unearthing of dozens of terracotta figurines depicting ancient Greek gods, men, women, and animals.
The artifacts, which are over 2,000 years old, were found in the ancient Greek town of Myra, which is now called Demre, in Turkey.
Many figurines of Greek gods and mortals were found in Turkey. Credit: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. https://basin.ktb.gov.tr/
Myra, one of the most important ancient Greek towns in Lycia, Turkey
Nevzat Çevik, the leader of the excavation team and Archaeology Professor at Akdeniz University in Turkey, told Live Science that “Myra is one of the most important ancient settlements in Lycia.”
Myra remained an important site throughout history, as the ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and later, the Ottomans inhabited the town.
The figurines give “rich clues about what existed in the mysterious Myra under a thick silt layer in the first and second centuries BC,” Çevik added.
The archaeological team was excavating parts of a 4th-century Roman theater between June and October of 2020 when they suddenly unearthed a second, smaller theater below the Roman remains.
Heads of Greek gods found in Turkey. The find provides insight into life in the ancient Greek town of Myra. Credit: Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. https://basin.ktb.gov.tr/
The older structure underneath dates back to the Hellenistic period, from 323 BC, the time of the death of Alexander the Great, to the beginning of the Roman Empire in 30 BC.
What the researchers found was the massive collection of terracotta figurines scattered amongst the remains along with the Hellenistic theater.
“It is as if the people of ancient Myra were resurrected and ran through the time tunnel all together and came to our day,” Çevik told his team when they found the figurines.
There is an almost uncountable number of ancient Greek and Byzantine archaeological and historical sites in Turkey, many of which attract hundreds of thousands and even millions of visitors every year.
Many of them are landmarks not to be missed by any travelers to Turkey, and they should especially not be missed by Greek travelers since they are incontrovertible evidence of their people’s long, rich history and contributions to Western civilization.
South Korean soldiers standing guard at the JSA between the blue buildings. View from the south. Credit: Henrik Ishihara Globaljuggler , CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia
Travis King, the American soldier who fled to North Korea, had been detained after getting into fights in South Korea prior to crossing the border.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern about the soldier, who the US military in Korea said joined an orientation tour of the North-South Joint Security Area (JSA) and “deliberately and without authorization crossed the military demarcation line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)”.
King, 23, who spent nearly two months in a South Korean prison, was arrested on assault charges and released on July 10 after serving his sentence. On Monday, he was to be sent home to Fort Bliss, Texas, to face additional military disciplinary action and be dismissed from service.
American soldier fled from the airport
According to officials, he was taken to the airport and escorted to customs. But instead of boarding the plane, he left the airport and later joined a tour of the Korean border village of Panmunjom.
On Tuesday afternoon, he crossed the border, which is guarded, but also often crowded with tourists. It is not yet clear how King got to the border and how he spent the hours between leaving the airport on Monday and crossing the border a day later.
“There’s a lot we’re still trying to learn,” Austin said at a media briefing. “We believe he is in (North Korean) custody and therefore we are closely monitoring and investigating the situation and working to notify the soldier’s next of kin,” he added.
Pte King’s mother Claudine Gates told ABC News she could not imagine her son doing such a thing. He “had to be out of his mind”, she said.
JSA is a section on Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea
Also known as Panmunjom or the “peace” or “truce” village, the JSA is a section on the 250km-long Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.
In 1948, when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) were created, the DMZ marked the border between the two countries.
In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean war, which ended in an armistice in 1953, signed at the JSA, at which point the DMZ became a 2km-wide buffer zone. The DMZ is lined on both sides with razor wire, heavy armaments and tank traps.
The peace village is made up of bright United Nations-blue buildings, bisected by a military demarcation line. The two Koreas have their own liaison offices and conference halls in the JSA and troops from each country face each other across the military demarcation line, but despite working at close quarters, communication is often strained.
During periods of high tensions phone hotlines often go unanswered, forcing US or South Korean officials to try to shout across the border.
The fire in Rhodes burns a virgin forest of wild pines and cypresses. Credit: Odysseas Karadis/Greek Reporter
At least three villages and a hotel have been evacuated on the Greek island of Rhodes as a wildfire in the center of the island is burning a forest uncontrollably.
The fire broke out in the area of Apollona on Tuesday evening. The village is located 50 km from the island’s capital and very close to the island’s highest mountain, Attavyros.
It is a green area surrounded by wild pines, cypresses and the local olive groves that produce excellent quality olive oil every year.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of the villages of Eleousa, Salakos, Dimilia, and the mountain of Profitis Ilias, where the Elaphos Hotel is located, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to contain the spread of the flames.
Hardest to control wildfire in recent years in Rhodes
According to reports from the South Aegean Region, cited by the Athens News Agency, the fire is raging out of control on at least three fronts and there are constant reignitions while the situation is considered particularly difficult.
Shortly after 11 o’clock on Wednesday morning, there was a major resurgence on the front towards Ebmonas in the west of the island just as three of the six air assets operating since the morning had gone to refuel.
The South Aegean regional authorities issued a statement for the requisition of all construction machinery and water carriers in an attempt to assist in the firefighting operations.
Experienced volunteer forest firefighters are talking about one of the biggest, most dangerous, and hardest to control fires in recent years in Rhodes because it is burning in virgin forest.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the flames at Dervenochoria, west of Athens, which, according to the fire service is the most difficult due to the dense forest vegetation and the inaccessible nature of the area.
The blaze, which broke out on Monday about 30 km north of Athens, spread fast as it was fanned by erratic winds and reached Mandra on Tuesday, burning houses and forcing people to flee.
Evia has a wealth of beautiful beaches. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
Evia is known for its stunning beaches and pristine natural sites. The second-largest island in Greece, Evia is located just a short drive away from Athens, making it the perfect spot for a quick getaway.
The heat index has spiked in the past few days all over the country, and the Greek summer is here, bringing with it all that the country is known for, including fresh fish, all-day swimming in deep blue seas, and cocktails all night long.
Evia offers many less expensive vacation opportunities for those looking to escape the heat on a budget, and it is full of stunning beaches. Its capital, Chalkida, has more than eight beaches surrounding it.
What’s better, or more “summery,” than a city where locals walk around with their swimsuits on, carrying their beach towels as they head for the closest beach?
With so many beaches to choose from, travelers may be a bit overwhelmed while trying to pick the perfect spot to visit.
While all the beaches on Evia are beautiful, some stand out from the rest.
Chiliadou Beach is known for crystal-clear waters
Chiliadou is a wonderful beach with both rocks and sand that is located almost an hour and fifteen minutes away from Chalkida.
Situated in central Evia, the beach is a favorite for both locals and tourists during summer weekends. Despite this, it is very rarely crowded. Oftentimes, only a few people are at the beautiful beach.
Known for its clear, turquoise waters and secret caves, Chiliadou Beach is often compared to a tropical beach in the Caribbean.
The beach is also surrounded by lush, verdant forests with trees that stretch down to the sand, as well as unique, dramatic rock formations.
Camping lovers frequent the spot, so you may find many tents and campers under the thick trees.
If swimming makes you feel hungry, you will find countless tavernas offering fresh fish and traditional Greek dishes very close to the beach.
Agia Anna, a beautiful beach in northern Evia
Another extraordinary beach is that of Agia Anna. It is situated in northern Evia less than a two hour-drive away from Chalkida.
Agia Anna Beach features long stretches of golden sandy beaches, and its deep blue waters attract countless tourists during the summer. There are many souvenir stores and tavernas around the beach, as well.
Moreover, there is a campsite located close to the beach in the middle of a pine tree forest, which is very popular among young people since it makes for a much more affordable vacation.
A major asset is that everyone parks their cars far away from the beach, so you feel as though you’re in a summer paradise without the crowds.
The quiet, calm beach is almost around an hour and forty minutes away from Chalkida on the road to Edipsos.
Upon your arrival at the village of Rovies, you may not find the beach at once, so you could ask the friendly locals to show you the way to the beautiful beach.
Rovies is not as famous as other beaches in Evia, making it a great location for those looking to get away from it all. Although less well-known than other spots on the island, Rovies is not completely isolated.
Visitors can still find tavernas and coffee shops nearby to fuel up for their beach day.
Agiocampos is one of the best Evia beaches
Agiocampos is a bit further away than most other beaches mentioned above, but the longer drive is worth it, as the beach is a hidden treasure.
Agiocampos Beach has water that is so clear and blue that swimmers can easily see the wide variety of fish that call the beach their home swimming under the waves.
Tourists and locals alike are extremely fond of the stunning beach, and it is widely considered one of the best on Evia.
As for the nightlife, the village surrounding the beach is full of bars and restaurants.
You can either drive to the beach, which takes approximately two hours from Chalkida or go there by ferry from the ports of Glyfa and Arkitsa.
Mourteri Beach
Many consider Mourteri Beach to be the best on the entire island. It is located ten kilometers away from the city of Kymi, Evia’s port city.
The sea at Mourteri Beach is a deep, rich blue, and the temperature of the water is even better—not too warm and not too cold. The beach is nearly five kilometers long and has a mix of stones and sand.
Although the beach is popular, it is so long that you rarely feel crowded. In fact, you may even feel like you’re on a secluded beach far removed from the rest of the world.
Blue Whales: Return of the Giants (2023) is a new documentary taking a deep dive into this remarkable story of survival and rebuilding. Public Domain
Blue whales, the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth (including dinosaurs) were on the brink of extinction a few decades ago.
The species had been a huge target for whalers hunting their valuable blubber, especially during the early 1900s following the invention of mechanized harpoons and fast-traveling factory ships.
In the 1930–31 season alone, 30,000 blue whales perished, according to the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
In response to this mass slaughter, the IWC banned the hunting of blue whales in 1966. Under increased protection, the species that had nearly disappeared has been steadily recovering over the past few decades.
Blue Whales: Return of the Giants (2023) is a new documentary taking a deep dive into this remarkable story of survival and rebuilding, now on view daily in 2D at the American Museum of Natural History.
Andy Serkis narrates the trailer for Blue Whales: Return of the Giants, a documentary that details the inspirational story of the world’s biggest animals and their journey to recovery.
The film follows two scientific expeditions: one is a high-risk mission in search of a missing population of blue whales that haven’t been seen in 50 years; and the other joins Diane Gendron, aka the “Blue Whale Whisperer,” and her team as they eavesdrop on whale conversations and explore the role the animals play in the health of Earth’s oceans.
Director and producer Hugh Pearson’s “lifelong passion for blue whales that borders on obsession” is what pushed him to bring this hopeful story to life.
The number of blue whales slowly increase
“The ongoing recovery of the blue whales from the brink of extinction is such a good news story,” Pearson said.
“Just 40 years ago, scientists genuinely feared that we had driven the largest animal ever to have lived to total extinction. It’s estimated that only a few thousand individuals survived from a global population of 300,000, but fortunately, that proved enough.”
He explained that blue whale numbers are slowly increasing, and the global population is estimated to be about 15,000 — a tiny fraction of their historic numbers, though they’re increasing every year.
“In places such as off the Pacific coast of Mexico and California, the population has recovered to pre-whaling numbers,” the director continued. “And now it’s possible for people to see blue whales on whale-watching trips from shore, which is fantastic.”
Serkis narrates the documentary and explained that he finds Blue Whales: Return of the Giants to be “incredibly uplifting and powerful.” The award-winning actor also shared that the whales “inspire us to have hope” and is surprised more isn’t known about them.
“Everyone assumes that because blue whales are the largest mammals on the planet, we should know a lot about them, but in fact, that’s not the case,” he said in a statement.
“Learning what scientists are trying to do, to understand their behaviors, has been a real education for me. We need to find out more about creatures like these because they inspire us to have hope. The film is a wonderful marriage of storytelling, fact-giving and entertainment.”
The delectable Galaktoboureko, a famous Greek dessert. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Greece is known around the world for its delicious cuisine, and Greek desserts are no exception to this rule.
Classic Greek flavors such as orange, cinnamon, honey, and sesame make Greek sweets some of the most delectable in the world.
Revani: A semolina cake from northern Greece
Revani is a beloved Greek dessert. Credit: Akerbeltz/Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0
Revani, also known as ravani or samali, is a delicious semolina-based cake that is soaked in sweet syrup that has been flavored with citrus. The dessert is associated with northern Greece, particularly the city of Veroia, where traditional sweet shops make revani according to a recipe from Byzantine times.
Variations of the sweet semolina cake can be found across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and the Balkans, particularly in Greece, Egypt, and Turkey.
Bougatsa, a beloved Greek dessert
Bougatsa with cream. Credit: Greek Reporter
Bougatsa with cream is one of the most popular sweets in all of Greece. Traditionally associated with northern Greece, particularly the city of Thessaloniki, Bougatsa with cream is a favorite amongst Greeks all across the country.
The pastry is made of phyllo dough filled with creamy custard and topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar. In much of Greece, it is important to be specific and state “bougatsa with cream,” as there is a savory version of the pastry that is filled with meat.
The most traditional Greek dessert of all: Spoon sweets
Spoon sweets, or pieces of preserved fruit in sweet syrup, have historic roots in Greece. The delicious age-old tradition in Greece of offering spoon sweets to visitors originated in the fourteenth century, when the Byzantines adopted the custom from Arab traders.
You can find spoon sweets made out of a variety of fruits, including sour cherry, figs, and even orange rinds. Many people eat spoon sweets plain or spooned on top of Greek yogurt.
Ryzogalo, Greek rice pudding
Ryzogalo is the Greek version of rice pudding. Made with delicious Greek milk, rice, and cinnamon, the comforting Greek dessert, served cold, is a favorite during the hot summer.
Melomakarona, a favorite Christmas cookie
Melomakarona are a Christmastime favorite. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Melomakarona are the delicious Greek cookies served around Christmastime. Made with olive oil, flour, honey, and citrus, melomakarona are much healthier than most holiday treats. The addition of cinnamon and walnuts make melomakarona simply irresistible.
The origin of the scrumptious cookie dates all the way back to ancient Greece. At funerals, ancient Greeks would eat a barley mixture, called makaria. Scholars argue that through the years, makaria developed into the cookie we know today. The addition of honey, or meli in Greek, to the cookie, gives us the name melomakarona.
The iconic Galaktoboureko
This dessert consists of layers at the top and the bottom and is filled with a custard. It is cut into square portions, or rolled into individual servings and smothered in a clear, sweet syrup. The custard may be flavored with lemon, orange, or rose water.
It is notoriously difficult to make, but galaktoboureko is one of the most popular desserts in Greece.
Halvas
The semolina-based halvas (sold as “Halvah” in the US) is a common food found in the Balkan countries, Turkey, and Israel and is usually homemade.
It is a very plain and densely-grained confection made of ground sesame seeds, sugar, water and oil. The ground sesame seed is sweetened either with honey or “petimezi” while the syrup is made from the must of grapes. It is formed into a round shape and baked as a loaf.
Kourabiedes
Kourabiedes. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Kourabiedes are a kind of shortbread cookie, perfectly sweet and satisfying, filled with almonds and topped with powdered sugar. Depending on the region, the dough for Greek kourabiedes may also include a splash of brandy or rosewater for some extra flavor.
The word kourabiedes comes from the Turkish work kurabiye, which itself was borrowed from the Arabic qurabiya, all of which refer to this type of biscuit. Cookies like kourabiedes are made across the Balkans and the Middle East.
Baklavas, the quintessentially Greek dessert
Baklavas. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Baklavas, or baklava, is likely one of the most famous, yet controversial, Greek desserts. The delicious sweet is made from crispy layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts, usually pistachios, and sweetened with honey or syrup.
There is a persistent debate as to the origins of the sweet, however. Many ethnic groups such as the Greeks, Turks, and Middle Easterners all claim baklava as their own, and prepare it in their own way.
Greek donuts, or loukoumades
Loukoumades. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Loukoumades are heavenly fried dough, served warm with honey and drizzled with walnuts and cinnamon, or even sesame seeds.
Loukoumades may be the oldest recorded dessert in the world, first served to the winners of the Greek Olympics, according to Greek poet Callimachus, who referred to them as “honey tokens.”
Now, widely accessible as a street food, loukoumades have been elevated to a gourmet level and are now filled with Nutella, vanilla, and all sorts of different flavors. However, there’s nothing like the traditional, original, and simple loukoumades of times past.
Tsoureki, the traditional Greek Easter bread eaten all-year round
Tsoureki. Credit: Nostimo/Greek Reporter
Tsoureki (τσουρέκι in Greek) is the traditional, sweet yeast bread Greeks make every year on Holy Thursday and eat on Easter Sunday.
The name tsoureki comes from the Turkish word “corek” which refers to any bread made with yeast dough. There are many kinds of corek, both savory and sweet, which appear in various shapes and sizes depending on the region.
Today, tsoureki has become an all-year-round pastry. It comes in various versions, such as filled or covered with chocolate and nuts, and it can even be filled with custard, or dipped in syrup. Even eaten plain, this delicately sweet bread is delightful and refreshing after the long privations of the Lenten period.
Nowadays, the animals are native to West Africa. Credit: ERT, Greek Public Television
Archaeologists recently discovered ancient pygmy hippo fossils on the island of Crete which date back to 350,000 B.C.
The find was made at Katharo Plateau on the Dikti mountain in the east of the island by paleontologists from the University of Athens last week.
It marks the first time such a “high concentration of pygmy hippopotamus fossils” has been found in Greece. Paleontologist Giorgos Lyras, who worked on the excavation, told AFP that it was a “significant discovery.”
The pygmy hippopotamus, or pygmy hippo, is a small member of the hippopotamid family. Nowadays, the animals are native to West Africa, living in swamps and forests.
Katharo Plateau lies at an elevation some 3,600 feet above sea level. Fossils are often discovered in such high places, where centuries of soil and sediment cover the bones and eventually bury them.
The discovery of the fossils is “significant”. Credit: ERT, Greek Public Television
More hippo fossils finds are expected on Crete
We expect to find an even greater number of hippopotamus fossils,” Lyras told AFP.
Other animals have been unearthed on Crete and the other Greek islands. Dwarf elephants were found to have lived in the Aegean islands, including Naxos and Rhodes. Fossils like these can inform researchers about the ecosystems existing thousands of years ago.
According to a statement by the Greek Ministry of Culture the sites “offer a unique opportunity to investigate human behavior over time, for an important period in the history of human evolution and in an area that has so far been little investigated.”
Hippo fossils discovered on mainland Greece
The oldest location identified is Kyparissia 4, which dates back to about 700 thousand years ago and is located about 70 meters below the surface.
The site contains Paleolithic stone artifacts, along with the remains of extinct animals such as giant deer (Praemegaceros), hippopotamus, rhinoceros, elephant, and a tooth of the macaque monkey.
The “younger” nearby site Kyparissia 3 yielded mainly elephant bones associated with stone tools. At the Marathousa 2 site, which dates back to about 450 thousand years ago, a part of a hippopotamus skeleton with cut marks was found together with the remains of stone tools, and is a rare example of hippopotamus exploitation in Pleistocene Europe.
The preliminary study of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic indicators shows that all the sites have been found in ice age environments, and in fact, they are located chronologically in almost all the ice ages of the Middle Pleistocene.
These findings indicate that the Megalopolis basin formed one of the southernmost ecological refuges in Europe during the glacial periods, the Greek Ministry says.
“Tango for Carlitos” is a fun, playful piece. Credit: Katherine Filippeos
Greek-Canadian singer, songwriter and musician, Katherine Filippeos, just released an EP —available on all streaming platforms— featuring her original composition “Tango for Carlitos.”
It is a song she wrote on the guitar after a colleague gave her a CD of tangos performed by perhaps the most influential artist in tango music, Carlos Gardel.
“I was so moved by the timeless passion that jumped straight into my heart after hearing Gardel’s vocals and the classic orchestration and rhythms of Argentinian tango. Songs like “Mi Buenos Aires Querido” diversified my interests as a composer,” Filippeos said.
This latest video encourages the viewer to bring dreams to life; as she cycles through European countryside to a local flower shop she smells the flowers and enjoys simply being alive!
“Tango for Carlitos” is a fun, playful piece that travels the listener through a minor key, a romantic bridge and an exciting key-change that heightens to the perfect feel-good ending. The song is dedicated to Gardel, as depicted in the title with his affectionate nickname “Carlitos.”
Track two of this EP includes Katherine’s original guitar arrangement of “Hotel California.” Beginning with a seductive intro, foretelling glimpses of the melody, it lights up in flames as the familiar notes are played with the fire of a Rumba flamenco. This version features technique and style with layered nylon-string guitar.
Filippeos’ “No Pain No Glory”
In April Filippeos released a single entitled “No Pain No Glory.” It was the second in a series of releases that encourage introspection and self-observation while relating darkness to a polarity of optimism and a positive message.
Marked by Filippeos’ eerie vocals & harmonizations, her performance exhibits her fine command of the guitar. It features beautiful arpeggios and powerful rasgueados, and is strongly influenced by her formal studies in classical guitar and flamenco.
The music takes the listener on a journey to the inner self and the struggle to release human pain by deep understanding; “It is through our pain that we develop our complete power to face challenges and rise to glory,” Filippeos says.
Filippeos graduated with an A.R.C.T. in guitar performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she has received scholarships and a silver medal award. She is an experienced educator and adjudicator.
Katherine’s current and upcoming works are organic recordings, featuring skilled performances exclusively on guitar and vocals. Follow Katherine on Spotify and instagram and be the first to know of upcoming releases and when they go live!
Supercontinent to form in Pacific in 200 to 300 million years, scientists say. Credit: Fama Clamosa/Wikimedia Commons
According to recent research conducted by Australia’s Curtin University, the world’s next supercontinent will form when the Pacific Ocean closes in two hundred to three hundred million years.
Earth’s crust, also known as the lithosphere, is made up of continents and oceanic rock. The lithosphere sits on top of the mantle, which is a thick layer of molten rock that extends for thousands of kilometers.
The continents of Earth travel over the mantle relatively slowly. One of the faster moving plates is advancing toward the north at a rate of about seven centimeters per year.
The Himalayas were created when the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia some forty to fifty million years ago. On occasion, continents bump into one another, causing mountain ranges to rise. In certain cases, they all come together to form a single large supercontinent.
Genesis of Supercontinents Using Supercomputers
Geologists at Curtin University in Perth were able to model the genesis of supercontinents using supercomputers. Their findings demonstrate that the thickness and strength of the plates under the oceans have decreased as a result of the Earth cooling over billions of years.
The Atlantic and Indian Oceans, considered to be “younger” waters than the Pacific, are therefore more resistant to continental drift. The results have been reported in the National Science Review.
Dr. Chuan Huang from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University and the Earth Dynamics Research Group said, “Over the past two billion years, Earth’s continents have collided to form a supercontinent every 600 million years, known as the supercontinent cycle. This means that the current continents are due to come together again in a couple of hundred million years’ time.”
The “supercontinent cycle,” according to co-author Professor Zheng-Xiang Li of Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, remains a mystery.
Li says, “It’s a very intriguing question. We don’t really know. Until thirty years ago, we knew of one supercontinent Pangaea between 200 and 300 million years ago. But, with work over the last thirty years, we realized before Pangea there were two more supercontinents. And they happened in a kind of regular interval every 600 million years. That’s the observation based on the geological record.”
Li hypothesizes that this cycle might be linked to the Earth’s mantle experiencing a rising and falling of hotter and colder molten rock in a manner similar to convection.
Huang says, “The resulting new supercontinent has already been named Amasia because some believe that the Pacific Ocean will close (as opposed to the Atlantic and Indian oceans) when America collides with Asia. Australia is also expected to play a role in this important Earth event, first colliding with Asia and then connecting America and Asia once the Pacific Ocean closes.”
According to Li, the way we comprehend plate tectonics has also changed.
“Twenty-five years ago” Li said, “most people thought the continents were dragged by the mantle, the floating rock underneath the shell of the Earth’s crust. But now, we know it’s a combination of forces. You have the mantle dragging continents, and the oceanic slabs going into the mantle which acts like a heavy sinker also dragging the continents into the mantle.”
Huang explains, “By simulating how the Earth’s tectonic plates are expected to evolve using a supercomputer, we were able to show that in less than 300 million years’ time it is likely to be the Pacific Ocean that will close, allowing for the formation of Amasia, debunking some previous scientific theories.”
Li tells Cosmos, “We tried to mimic the Earth’s processes, the plate tectonic process, using the supercomputer. We filled in basic parameters like temperature gradient and the density profile. This is seen through the continental lithosphere and the oceanic lithosphere. We look at their density, strength, and viscosity.”
He adds, “Out of these parameters, we tried to physically mimic as best as we can Earth’s conditions. We see how continents come together or break up in the plate tectonic process with the supercomputer. We model a 3D image for the spherical processes as they evolve through time.”
Li emphasizes how fascinating the research is. “Earth as we know it,” he says, “will be drastically different when Amasia forms. The sea level is expected to be lower, and the vast interior of the supercontinent will be very arid with high daily temperature ranges.”
He adds, “We are fortunate to live in a very exciting time in geological research. There was the ‘Plate Tectonics Revolution’ 60 years ago. I believe we are now in another revolution. We are able to link what we see on the surface, the plate motion, with what is happening in the deep Earth or even in the core. In fact, the whole Earth system is either a kind of interactive system, from the core to the mantle to the crust, and then to the atmosphere and even life, the biosphere. We are starting to see the Earth system in a more holistic kind of way.”
The most difficult wildfire is at Dervenochoria, west of Athens, which is burning a forest for the third day. Credit: AMNA
Wildfires are raging in Greece for a third day on Wednesday as a punishing heatwave is engulfing the country.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the flames at Dervenochoria, west of Athens, which, according to the fire service is the most difficult due to the dense forest vegetation and the inaccessible nature of the area.
The blaze, which broke out on Monday about 30 km north of Athens, spread fast as it was fanned by erratic winds and reached Mandra on Tuesday, burning houses and forcing people to flee.
Not everyone went willingly. Footage released by Greek police showed officers imploring a reluctant group of nuns chanting hymns to evacuate a convent, and another of police screaming “lets go” as towering flames closed in at a timber yard.
Η φωτιά πλησιάζει στο Μοναστήρι, οι μοναχές ψέλνουν & προσεύχονται, ενώ η αστυνομία προσπαθεί να τις πείσει να το εκκενώσουν. Αλήθεια δεν ξέρω τι να σχολιάσω σε αυτό το απίστευτο βίντεο.#φωτια#Πυρκαγιαpic.twitter.com/j4a9F4pjjb
The fire at Dervenochoria has damaged homes, while firefighters and the police have had to rescue people in several cases in the region.
The fire in the region of Loutraki, east of Corinth, has yet to be contained.
Evacuation orders were sent out on Tuesday through the 112 emergency system (sms) for residents of ‘Glykia Zoi’ in the Loutraki area to evaucate toward Agii Theodori. In addition, residents of Loutropyrgos, Ano Vlychada, and the communities of Othonas and Eftaxias were asked to head to Elefsina, to avoid the advancing fire.
A large wildfire broke out late on Tuesday on the Greek island of Rhodes. The area where the fire continues to burn is an inaccessible forest area, which makes extinguishing efforts difficult, while, on the positive side, the strength of the winds has significantly weakened.
Four Canadair water-dropping aircraft arrived in Greece from France and Italy to help put out wildfires, following the activation of the EU-wide Civil Protection Mechanism.
Its forecast says that on Thursday temperatures in continental Greece will reach 42°C and, in some places 43°C, while in eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese, the temperature would climb up to 39°C.
From Friday until Sunday, a further rise in temperature is expected. The maximum values will reach 43°C on the mainland and 44°C in areas in the interior of Thessaly and Central Greece. The top temperature for the islands is predicted at 41°C.
The heatwave will ease starting Monday when temperatures are predicted to drop by up to 5°C, with the largest drop expected in the eastern part of the country.
Heatwaves are “the new normal”
The extreme temperatures sweeping the globe this week are the new normal in a world warmed by climate change, the UN weather agency says.
The World Meteorological Organisation warned the heatwave in Europe could continue into August.
Millions around the world are under heat advisories as officials warn of danger to life from the hot temperatures.
