An Ancient City Is Discovered Underwater. What They Found Will Change History Forever

An Ancient City Is Discovered Underwater. What They Found Will Change History Forever

Posted on: December 1, 2013 · By Sunny Skyz

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

The city of Heracleion was engulfed underwater 1500 years ago. This grand city had been mentioned by the Greek writer Herodotus, the 5th-century BC historian. He had told a wonderful tale of Helen of Troy, who traveled to Heracleion, then a port of 'great wealth', with her Trojan lover, Paris.

When French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio stumbled upon some relics, it led them to one of the greatest finds of the 21st century; a city underwater. The discovery took place when Goddio had been in search of Napoleon’s warships from the 1798 Battle of the Nile, when he had been defeated by Nelson in these very waters, but to his surprise, he stumbled upon this magnificent discovery.

Here the team retrieves the statue of the god Hapi

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

More and more statues are brought to surface, still in excellent condition

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

The discoveries include the colossal statues of the Egyptian goddess Isis, the god Hapi, and an unidentified Egyptian pharaoh, all preserved in excellent condition by their muddy burial shroud. Along with these 16ft statues there are hundreds of smaller statues of Egyptian gods, among them the figures that guarded the temple where Cleopatra was inaugurated as Queen of the Nile. Dozens of sarcophagi have also been found, containing the bodies of mummified animals sacrificed to Amun-Gereb, the supreme god of the Egyptians. Many amulets, or religious charms, have been unearthed, too, showing gods such as Isis, Osiris and Horus.

A red granite sculpture of a Ptolemaic queen

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

A gold vessel, which is a shallow dish used throughout the Hellenistic world for drinking

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

A bronze statuette of a Pharoah of the 26th dynasty

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

An ancient lamp is discovered during the search

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

Here an archaelogist measures the feet of a colossal red granite statue

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

The god Hapi was the god of the flooding of the Nile, a symbol of abundance and fertility

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

A 1.9m inscribed pillar, commissioned by Nectanebo I (378-362 BC)

Photos: Christoph Gerigk ©Franck Goddio Hilti Foundation

Evidence shows that Heracleion slipped into its watery grave sometime in the 6th or 7th century AD. The discovery of Heracleion will now add depth and detail to our knowledge of the ancient world, because among the discoveries, there are perfectly preserved inscribed pillars decorated with hieroglyphics.

Source

DREAM

Monster Energy: BJ Baldwin 2013 Baja 1000 Champion!

Get an exclusive look at BJ Baldwin's return to Baja as he battles his way back to the top for his 2nd consecutive Baja 1000 title... Ironman style! 

NASA 2013 Highlights

NASA highlights its accomplishments in air and space for 2013.

Dream Theater - Metropolis pt.1 (Live At Luna Park)

Dream Theater began their mammoth "A Dramatic Tour Of Events" world trek in July 2011 with the final leg in South America taking place in August 2012. It was here at the Luna Park arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina that they decided to film the two nights that go to make up this release. It was Dream Theater's first tour with new drummer Mike Mangini and all the tracks from their first album together "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" are included in either the main show or the bonus performances. Dream Theater are rock's supreme virtuosos with many awards to their name and here in concert they bring all the power and drama of their music to life with breathtaking performances of classic tracks from across their career. Out November 4th 2013

Filmed in high definition.
Features many of their classic tracks including: "Metropolis Pt. 1", "The Silent Man", "Pull Me Under", "The Root Of All Evil", "The Test That Stumped Them All", "The Spirit Carries On" and the recent "On The Backs Of Angels".

James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); John Myung (bass); Mike Mangini (drums)
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Islamic Front Attacks And Captures Weapon Depot In Dumayr, Outskirt Of D...

Opposition forces have launched a offensive on the Dumayr's weapon depot and managed to capture the area surrounding it, according to opposition sources the Islamic Front launched this offensive a week ago together with a less known brigade called Liwaa Magawir Al-Sahra(Desert Commando Brigade). Dumayr forms part of the area including Adra that the opposition wants to keep hold of. 

The Syrian army responded heavily after the offensive by carrying out multiple air raids on Dumayr city. Dumayr forms a strategic area as it is the main route from Damascus to Homs and the coast.

It is unknown how many fighters have participated in the battle for this weapon depot but after a week of heavy clashes the opposition fighters managed to capture the weapons depot. 

Opposition sources claimed that many civilians have died during these air raids, Syrian government has not responded to this but claimed in a news broadcast that many fighters were killed during the fighting in Dumayr.

Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper - Canada environment is not your's t...

Read it and weep --- According to the 'Conference Board of Canad'

Canada receives a "C" grade on environmental performance and ranks 15th out of 17 peer countries.

Despite a decade or so of innovation agendas and prosperity reports, Canada remains near the bottom of its peer group on innovation, ranking 13th among the 16 peer countries. Despite some improvement, Canadians are still the largest users of energy in the developed world.

This study compares Canada's environmental record to the other industrialized nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 

The study provides accurate, independent information about Canada's track record in protecting the environment. All of the statistical information comes from data verified and published by the OECD.

The results prove that Canada has one of the poorest environmental records of the industrialized countries. The primary finding is that for the twenty-five environmental indicators examined, Canada's overall ranking among OECD nations is a dismal 28th out of 29.

Sibirian Tigers, Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich - Germany HD Travel Channel

Video: Deadly explosion rocks Beirut near parliament building

A large explosion has shaken the downtown area of the Lebanese capital, killing former finance minister Mohammed Shattah. Lebanese television showed footage of dead bodies lying near the wreckage.

Polizia di Stato - Le norme da rispettare per sciare in sicurezza (27.12...

2013 news review: Typhoon Haiyan, Boston Bombings and Ariel Castro

Terrorism, a number of high profile shootings and a typhoon saw tragedy and devastation fill the year of 2013. However, there were glimmers of positivity as captured women were freed and new babies emerged from a terrible natural disaster.

February saw the world wake up to a shock on Valentine's Day. South African athlete Oscar Pistorius's girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp shot dead at their home. Pistorius was arrested for her premeditated murder. A trial will be held in March next year and the athlete denies murdering the model and says he shot her by mistake thinking she was an intruder.

April saw the first of what later become acts of terrorism. As runners were finishing the Boston marathon, two bombs exploded killing three people and injuring more than 250. Two suspects were identified as Chechen-born brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokar Tsarnaev. The FBI tracked them down and Tamerlan was shot dead in a gun battle. Dzhokar was found hiding in a boat with a bloodied face. He could face the death penalty.

A few months later gunmen linked to the al-Shabaab movement stormed the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya and went on the rampage. At least 72 people were killed, including 61 civilians. A shoot-out with Kenyan forces eventually saw the perpetrators shot dead. The Islamist group said the attack was tribution for Kenyan military being in Somalia

Many families in the Philippines are spending Christmas with their lives still devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. It was powerful tropical cyclone that killed more than 6,000 people.

However, despite all the tragedy that 2013 brought there were moving stories emerging. Amanda Berry, Georgina "Gina" DeJesus, and Michelle Knight were rescued from a house in Cleveland, Ohio, after being held captive by Ariel Castro for more than a decade. He pled guilty to rape, kidnapping and aggravated murder but was later found dead in his cell.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Develops New Technology

Blast By Taliban in Kabul Kills 1 American, 2 Slovak Soldiers, Scores Wo...

Forces in Afghanistan are on high alert after officials say a suspected suicide bomber attacks a military convoy outside Kabul. Officials say the attack killed at least three foreign soldiers. It's unknown how many were injured. (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) BAKER AND EYEWITNESS, NIAMATULLAH, SAYING: "After the blast my bakery windows broke. Later on, smoke covered the area then Americans arrived and carried three bodies from the scene." The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which comes as President Hamid Karzai deliberates over an agreement allowing U.S. forces to stay in the country beyond 2014. Many Afghans, including a number of tribal leaders, have urged Karzai to sign the U.S. pact quickly. Some are concerned about security in the country after 2014 when most foreign forces are leaving.

National Dress Festival Fashion Show ft Gulnara Karimova | Style.Uz Art ...

TASHKENT - FashionTV has a front row seat for the National Dress Festival fashion show at Style.Uz Art Week 2013. Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the Uzbekistan President, presents the designers to the audience. Women's and men's looks, many inspired by traditional Uzbek clothing, are showcased on the runway. 

Kyrie Irving's Top 10 Plays of 2013!

Συρία: Οι Χριστιανοί δημιούργησαν Δυνάμεις Αυτοάμυνας

Συρία: Οι Χριστιανοί δημιούργησαν Δυνάμεις Αυτοάμυνας

Η Ορθόδοξη Ένωση της Συρίας, ανακοίνωσε στις 27 Δεκεμβρίου 2013, το σχηματισμό μια ιδιωτικής πολιτοφυλακής- Δυνάμεων Αυτοάμυνας.

Η Ένωση σε ανακοίνωσή της  τονίζει ότι η στρατιωτική οργάνωση θα αγωνίζεται εναντίον κάθε μορφής απειλής για τους Χριστιανούς στο έδαφος της Συρίας.

Η ίδρυση του αστυνομικού σχηματισμού καθώς και οι προθέσεις του ανακοινώθηκαν  από τον εκπρόσωπο της Ένωσης, Μίλαντ Γεωργής στην Al-Sumaria News.

Το πρώτο τμήμα της χριστιανικής αυτοάμυνας αποτελείται, ήδη, από 300 άτομα- άνδρες και γυναίκες και η Ένωση ευελπιστεί ότι θα ενώσει τους εκπροσώπους όλων των χριστιανικών κοινοτήτων στην πολιτοφυλακή. Η ομάδα θα έχει πεδίο δράσης στην περιοχή Τζαζίρα.

Οι Χριστιανοί αποτελούν το 10,8 τοις εκατό του πληθυσμού της Συρίας. Οι περισσότεροι μιλούν αραβικά και ένα μέρος ομιλεί την αρμενική γλώσσα, γράφει το δημοσίευμα.

Stalled rescue for icebound ship in Antarctica

View from icebound Russian ship

Three ships had been headed toward the trapped Russian vessel. Two have now turned back, but a third is expected to reach the vessel late Sunday.

The group of 74 scientists, tourists and crew aboard a Russian ship stuck in ice off Antarctica are still stranded, although blizzard conditions that hit the ship on Thursday now appear to have eased somewhat. A Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon attempted to reach the ship on Saturday (December 28, 2013), and came within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the stranded vessel, but then encountered ice so heavy it could not break through.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating the rescue of the Russian passenger ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy. AMSA spokeswoman Andrea Hayward-Maher told AFP:

The Chinese vessel unfortunately encountered some heavy ice that it’s not capable of breaking through. The rescue… unfortunately has stalled.

The Russian ship has been icebound about 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont d’Urville since Tuesday, December 24.

Three vessels with icebreaking capability had been attempting to reach the stranded Russian ship. The Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon had been expected to get there first, late Friday, but it had to turn back. The French icebreaker, L’Astrolabe, is now said to have been released by rescue authorities from having to continue with the mission around midday on Saturday.

Now only the Australian Antarctic Division’s Aurora Australis continues to head toward the trapped Russian ship. It’s not expected to reach the area until Sunday evening.

Those aboard the trapped ship are said to have plenty of supplies and remain comfortable at this time.

Read more at Yahoo News.

Map via Yahoo News.

View from the stranded Russian passenger ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, via Australian Maritime Safety Authority Handout/EPA.

THAILAND ELECTIONS HAVE 'FEW SUPPORTERS' - BBC NEWS

The Thai government will seek the army's help to hold elections in February which the opposition is planning to boycott. In a national broadcast, the Deputy Prime Minister said he will ask the army chief to provide security for the polls. On Thursday the government rejected a call by the election commission to postpone the vote, after a policeman was shot dead during political violence in the capital. The BBC's Jonathan Head is in Bangkok - where he says the election has few supporters.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (+playlist)

ΔΕΙΤΕ ΟΛΗ ΤΗ ΛΙΣΤΑ ΜΕ ΤΑ 12 ΒΙΝΤΕΟ  HD ΚΑΙ ΤΑΞΙΔΕΨΤΕ ΣΕ ΟΛΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΟΣΜΟ

NASA and JAXA Announce Launch Date for Global Precipitation Satellite

Dec. 26, 2013

RELEASE 13-376

NASA and JAXA Announce Launch Date for Global Precipitation Satellite

Artist concept of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite.

Image Credit: 

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Environmental research and weather forecasting are about to get a significant technology boost as NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) prepare to launch a new satellite in February.

NASA and JAXA selected 1:07 p.m. to 3:07 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 27 (3:07 a.m. to 5:07 a.m. JST Friday, Feb. 28) as the launch date and launch window for a Japanese H-IIA rocket carrying the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite from JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center.

GPM is an international satellite mission that will provide advanced observations of rain and snowfall worldwide, several times a day to enhance our understanding of the water and energy cycles that drive Earth's climate. The data provided by the Core Observatory will be used to calibrate precipitation measurements made by an international network of partner satellites to quantify when, where, and how much it rains or snows around the world.

"Launching this core observatory and establishing the Global Precipitation Measurement mission is vitally important for environmental research and weather forecasting," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division in Washington. "Knowing rain and snow amounts accurately over the whole globe is critical to understanding how weather and climate impact agriculture, fresh water availability, and responses to natural disasters."

With the addition of the new Core Observatory, the satellites in the GPM constellation will include the NASA-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership mission, launched in 2012; the NASA-JAXA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), launched in 1997; and several other satellites managed by JAXA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, the Centre National D'Etudies Spatiales of France and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

"We will use data from the GPM mission not only for Earth science research but to improve weather forecasting and respond to meteorological disasters," said Shizuo Yamamoto, executive director of JAXA. "We would also like to aid other countries in the Asian region suffering from flood disasters by providing data for flood alert systems. Our dual-frequency precipitation radar, developed with unique Japanese technologies, plays a central role in the GPM mission."

The GPM Core Observatory builds on the sensor technology developed for the TRMM mission, with two innovative new instruments. The GPM Microwave Imager, built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp., Boulder, Colo., will observe rainfall and snowfall at 13 different frequencies. The Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar, developed by JAXA with the National Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Tokyo, transmits radar frequencies that will detect ice and light rain, as well as heavier rainfall. It also will be able to measure the size and distribution of raindrops, snowflakes and ice particles.

Bull in the Stands

Южный Судан на грани гуманитарной катастрофы

В Южном Судане с середины декабря не прекращаются этнические столкновения. Борьба за власть между президентом страны Сальвой Кииром и бывшим вице-президентом Риком Мачаром в итоге вылилась в этнический конфликт.

CORSA TV: Marc Coma y el Dakar 2014

3MIN NEWS Volcanic eruption in Japan gives birth to new island (+playlist)

Στολισμός του Χριστουγεννιάτικου δένδρου στη Νέα Πύλη

Δημοσιεύθηκε στις 19 Δεκ 2013

Την Πέμπτη το απόγευμα πραγματοποιήθηκε στη Νέα Πύλη της Ιερουσαλήμ εορταστική εκδήλωση με θέμα το άναμμα του Χριστουγεννιάτικου δέντρου. Μετά το άναμμα ακολούθησε εκδήλωση στο ξενοδοχείο Notre- Dame. Την εκδήλωση παρακολούθησε ο Μακαριώτατος Πατριάρχης Θεόφιλος, η συνοδεία των Αγιοταφιτών Πατέρων, οι λοιποί Αργηγοί των Χριστιανικών Εκκλησιών της Ιερουσαλήμ και πλήθος λαού.

GoPro: Santa Schools Naughty Kids In Pond Hockey

Indoor Volcano Gets Laser Treatment

Δημοσιεύθηκε στις 19 Δεκ 2013

It's too dangerous to study volcano emissions up close, so a Smithsonian volcanologist is re-creating volcanic pyroclastic flows in his indoor lab. He uses lasers to help study the flows' behavior in different circumstances.

Yemen civil tensions high - Gun battles

Subscribe for more http://goo.gl/bY5w6 ---
Civil tensions in Yemen are currently at an all time high as the Iran backed Huthi forces start to clash the Saudi/US Sunni forces. This video depicts a gun battle that took place on December 18th, one of the first in a while. Many people fear things in Yemen could escalate, which is unsettling considering what has taken place in Libya/Egypt/Syria these past few years. Some people also believe this is the height of the tensions and that things will deescalate in time. (video strictly for news reporting/educational purposes). 

Dirt Shark: A Monster Girl Christmas

Insurgents Heavy clashes with syria forces

Δημοσιεύθηκε στις 22 Δεκ 2013

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*DISCLAIMER*
This footage is to be taken as a documentary on the events of the conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, and should be viewed as educational. This footage is not meant to glorify war or violence. Furthermore we are not infringing on any copyrights by showing this footage, based on our intent to share news and information with the public. This falls under fair use 17 USC § 107.

Day 1: It's Not Just 8 Weeks

Capt. Todd Prestidge, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., addresses new recruits at the service's only enlisted basic training center. 

The average Coast Guard recruit company will lose more than 30 percent of its ranks to reversions, rephasals and washouts over the course the eight-week training program. 

The Coast Guard is the most selective and recruits the most qualified applicants for their rigorous basic training program. Applicants can find official and proven preparation materials here:http://goo.gl/U5joCf.

US builiding worth $1 demolished

Pakistan Army Apparently Executing Taliban suspects.

Pakistan Army Apparently Executing Taliban suspects.

Αναπαραγωγή βίντεο Nick Fielding asked me to save a copy of this horrific video and put it back on-line. To read more about the video, please check out Nick's blog at: http://circlingthelionsden.blogspot.com This… 00:05:42 Προστέθηκε στις 5/10/2010 12.710 προβολές

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Suicide bomber strikes security checkpoint near Benghazi, Libya Posted: 22 Dec 2013 08:30 AM PST A suicide bomber detonated a truck bomb at a checkpoint outside the city of Benghazi earlier today. The number of casualties varies in the early reporting. According to Al Arabiya, at least 13 people were killed. Several of the victims are Libyan soldiers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Reuters, the Libyan Army has blamed Ansar al Sharia, the al Qaeda-linked group that took part in the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the US Mission in Benghazi. The bombing is the latest in a string of attacks on Libyan security personnel. On Dec. 20, Colonel Fethallah al Gaziri, who was recently appointed the head of military intelligence in Benghazi, was assassinated. Al Gaziri was attending the wedding of his niece in Derna, Libya when gunmen opened fire, according to Al Jazeera. Ansar al Sharia has been battling government forces in Derna and Benghazi. The group has a strong presence in both eastern Libyan cities. Ansar al Sharia has repeatedly claimed that is members are not behind the violence. The group has also attempted to portray recent events as part of a Western conspiracy to interfere in Libya's affairs. Statements released by al Qaeda's senior leadership have advanced a similar theme. In a statement released on the group's official Twitter page on Dec. 19, Ansar al Sharia Libya's sharia committee denounced anyone who accuses the organization of engaging in violence. Ansar al Sharia alleged that a series of unspecified recent "incidents" have been "concocted by enemies to divert the attention of Muslims away" from implementing sharia in Libya. The group warned that Libya was "sliding" towards collaboration and "subordination to the West." Ansar al Sharia further claimed that "some people" want "to enable the US-Western project of fighting Islam." Suicide attacks uncommon in post-revolution Tunisia, Libya While gunfights, assassinations, and bombings have become common occurrences in Libya following the fall of Muammar Qaddafi, the country's longtime dictator, jihadists had refrained from suicide bombings. Suicide bombings have not been common in post-revolution Tunisia either. In October, however, a jihadist blew himself up outside of the Riadh Palm hotel in Sousse. No one, other than the bomber himself, was killed. A second suicide bomber was arrested before he could detonate his bomb. Tunisian officials blamed Ansar al Sharia for dispatching the suicide bombers. "The two suicide bombers are radical Islamist jihadists. They are Tunisians, but they had been in a neighboring country," Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Laroui told Reuters, without specifying the country, which may be Libya. In October, Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh told Reuters: "There is a relation between leaders of Ansar al Sharia [Tunisia], al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Ansar al Sharia in Libya. We are coordinating with our neighbors over that." In late August, Tunisian security officials accused Ansar al Sharia of having a "close" relationship with AQIM. At a press conference, according to Tunis Afrique Presse, they "reported the existence of close links between Ansar al Sharia and AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), showing journalists the handwritten Allegiance Act" between Ansar al Sharia's leader, Seifallah Ben Hassine, and AQIM's emir, Abdelmalek Droukdel. In a response to the Tunisian government's accusations, Ansar al Sharia reaffirmed its "loyalty" to al Qaeda while claiming to be organizationally independent. AQIM officials have openly praised and blessed Ansar al Sharia.

Pakistani military, Taliban clash in North Waziristan after suicide attack Posted: 22 Dec 2013 08:44 AM PST The Pakistani military claimed it killed 23 "militants" in the town of Mir Ali in the Taliban controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan, two days after a suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint there. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan and the Ansar al Aseer denied that their fighters were killed, and claimed the Pakistani military carried out a "massacre" of civilians in reprisal for the suicide attack. The fighting began after a suicide bomber killed five soldiers and wounded 34 more at a checkpoint in the Mir Ali area on Dec. 17. The Pakistani military said the soldiers were praying at a mosque when the suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into the checkpoint. The Ansar al Aseer Khorasan, or Helpers of the Prisoners, a group that includes members from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Taliban and was founded to free jihadists from Pakistani prisons, claimed credit for the attack in a statement emailed to The Long War Journal "A Fidai [fedayeen] (also term by western media suicide bomber) struck his explosive laden truck with Khajoree check post of Pakistan army, killing almost every one there or injured, and vanishing the post completely, [sic]" the statement said. Two days after the suicide attack, the Pakistani military claimed it killed "23 militants" after an army convoy was ambushed on Dec. 18 while evacuating casualties from the suicide attack. The military, in a statement released on its public affairs website, said it killed "10 more terrorists, reportedly most of them were Uzbek," during a follow-up raid on an IED factory in the Mir Ali area on Dec. 19. Ansar al Aseer denied that fighters were killed, and instead claimed that "the Army camp in Mir Ali started shelling the local innocent population of villages nearby," while "fleet of Gunship helicopters" were "used to shell local villagers, resulting in heavy causalities of men, women and children." Ansar al Aseer also claimed that Pakistani soldiers executed a group of truck drivers in the village of Eppi in the Mir Ali area. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan also sent photos to The Long War Journal purporting to show destruction of the bazaar and other areas in Mir Ali and nearby villages. The claims made by Ansar al Aseer and the validity of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan's photographs cannot be confirmed. Residents in the area have also claimed that the Pakistani military killed civilians, according to Pakistani press reports. The Pakistani military has indiscriminately used force during military operations in the past, and has summarily executed individuals suspected of belonging to the Taliban. Civilians in Swat and Bajaur accused the military of conducting scorched earth tactics during operations, while soldiers in Swat were caught on video killing suspected Taliban fighters. This week's clashes in North Waziristan occurred less than one week after another jihadist group that operates in North Waziristan, the Ansarul Mujahideen, killed four Pakistani soldiers in an IED attack in the village Spinwam. For years, the Pakistani military has promised the West that it would launch an offensive in North Waziristan to clear the tribal agency of the Taliban and al Qaeda, however it has failed to do so. Groups such as the Haqqani Network and Hafiz Gul Bahadar's Taliban faction, operate in North Waziristan, and are considered "good Taliban" by Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment as they do not openly support jihad against the state. But the Haqqanis and Bahadar fight in Afghanistan, and shelter and support al Qaeda, the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, and a host of terror groups that attack the Pakistani state and promote international jihad.

Top 10 NBA Dunks of the Week: 12/14-12/21

2014 Bentley Flying Spur - Onyx

Skiing at 6050 Meters in Peru - Days of My Youth

Dog rescued from icy waters in Massachusetts

An Early Start for Noctilucent Clouds

acquired May 22, 2012 - June 13, 2013download animation (6 MB, QuickTime)

acquired May 22, 2012 - June 13, 2013download animation (18 MB, QuickTime)

Every summer, something strange and wonderful happens above the North Pole. Ice crystals begin to cling to dust and particles high in the atmosphere, forming electric-blue, rippled clouds that stretch across the sky at sunset. Noctilucent or “night-shining” clouds are a delight for high-latitude sky watchers, and their season is eagerly anticipated around the Arctic Circle.

This year, noctilucent clouds (NLCs) got an early start; NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) spacecraft first saw them on May 13. “The 2013 season is remarkable because it started in the northern hemisphere a week earlier than any other season that AIM has observed,” said Cora Randall of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado. “This is quite possibly earlier than ever before.”

The images above show Earth’s upper atmosphere, centered on the North Pole, as observed by the AIM satellite. The image on the upper right shows noctilucent clouds on May 23, 2013; the upper left image compares the same week from 2012. The two bottom images show the extent of NLCs in mid-June of each year. The brighter the clouds in each image, the denser the ice particles. Areas with no data appear in black, and coastal outlines are traced in white. An animation of noctilucent cloud extent in both years is available for download below the main image.

The early start in 2013 is puzzling because of the solar cycle. Researchers have previously observed that noctilucent clouds seem to peak during solar minimum and become scarce during solar maximum. “If anything, we would have expected a later start this year because the solar cycle is near its maximum,” Randall said.

Noctilucent clouds were first described in the mid-19th century after the eruption of Krakatau. Volcanic ash spread through the atmosphere, painting vivid sunsets around the world and provoking the first written observations of NLCs. At first people thought they were a side-effect of the volcano, but long after Krakatau’s ash settled, the wispy, glowing clouds remained.

When AIM was launched in 2007, the cause of noctilucent clouds was still unknown. Researchers knew that they formed about 80 kilometers (50 miles) above Earth's surface—where the atmosphere meets the vacuum of space—but that’s about all they knew. AIM has quickly filled in the gaps.

“It turns out that meteoroids play an important role in the formation of NLCs,” explained James Russell, the principal investigator of AIM and a professor at Hampton University. “Specks of debris from disintegrating meteors act as nucleating points where water molecules can gather and crystallize.” Ash and dust from volcanoes—and even rocket exhaust—also can serve as nuclei for NLCs.

NLCs most often appear during spring and summer because more water molecules are wafted up from the lower atmosphere to mix with the meteor debris and ash. The warmest months in the troposphere (lower atmosphere) are also the coldest in the mesosphere (where NLCs form).

According to Randall and other scientists, noctilucent clouds are becoming more frequent and widespread. In the 19th century, reports of NLCs were mostly confined to high latitudes. In recent years, however, they have been sighted as far south as Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. Some researchers assert that this is a sign of greenhouse warming, as methane has become more abundant in Earth’s atmosphere. “When methane makes its way into the upper atmosphere, it is oxidized by a complex series of reactions to form water vapor,” Russell said. “This extra water vapor is then available to grow ice crystals for NLCs.”

Randall suggested that the earlier start in 2013 may be the result of a change in atmospheric “teleconnections,” or the way changes in one part of the atmosphere affect another. “Half-a-world away from where the NLCs are forming, strong winds in the southern stratosphere are altering global circulation patterns. This year, more water vapor is being pushed into the high atmosphere, and the air there is getting colder.”

“When we launched AIM, our interest was in the clouds themselves,” Russell added. “But now NLCs are teaching us about connections between different layers of the atmosphere that operate over great distances. Our ability to study these connections will surely lead to new understanding about how our atmosphere works.”

You can view a daily composite projection of noctilucent clouds by clicking here during the northern summer months.