The astronomical phenomenon&nbsp;of solar eclipse&nbsp;held&nbsp;great importance in ancient societies, dating back to the Mayan civilisation.&nbsp;

For Mayans, it was a bad omen which represented death and decay and to fight the evil, they indulged in bloodletting sacrifices.&nbsp;

<h2>Astronomy in Maya civilisation&nbsp;</h2>

The ancient Maya civilisation had some of the best sky-watching societies which comprised of the greatest mathematicians who kept a record of their systematic observations on the motion of the Sun, stars and planets.&nbsp;

Using the observations, the mathematicians created a complex calendar system for use in the world. The Sun and the aligned monumental structures like the pyramids were observed closely by astronomers to track solstices and equinoxes.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/total-solar-eclipse-birds-bees-and-plants-might-act-strange-during-the-eerie-darkness-705193">Total solar eclipse: Birds, bees, plants might act strange during the eerie darkness on April 8</a>

The accounts of the astronomical observations were kept by the scribes in codices which were hieroglyphic folding books made using fig bark paper.&nbsp;

The Dresden Codex is among the four remaining ancient Maya texts and dates back to the 11th century. It is filled with astronomical knowledge as well as religious interpretations and has evidence which proves Mayans could predict solar eclipses.

<h2>Why did Mayans track the astronomical event?</h2>

The Mayans maintained accounts of astronomical phenomena so that they remained forewarned and took proper precautions when something happened.&nbsp;

The kings and priests would then perform rituals and make sacrifices to the gods&nbsp;to ensure that the cycles of destruction, rebirth and renewal continue.

The Mayans believed that sunsets were related to death and decay. As per their belief system, the sun god "Kinich Ahau" took the perilous journey through the Mayan underworld "Xibalba" after sunset and took birth at sunrise. &nbsp;

However, they saw the solar eclipse as a "broken sun" which hinted at the sign of cataclysmic destruction.

When the Sun got hidden behind the Moon, the Mayans believed that it was dying and it was said that renewal rituals were important to restore nature's balance and bring him back on his cycle.

Watch:&nbsp;Parts of US declare state of emergency, huge anticipation in US over total solar eclipse

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Hence, the civilisation's nobility and kings performed bloodletting sacrifices in which they would pierce their bodies and collect the blood drops which were then burnt as offerings to the Sun god.&nbsp;

The offering of the "blood of kings" was said to be the highest form of sacrifice which was aimed at strengthening Kinich Ahau.&nbsp;

According to the Mayan belief system, the creator gods sacrificed their blood and added it to maize dough to create the first humans. The nobility in turn was expected to give their blood to the god to nourish them and bring them back to life.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The astronomical phenomenon of solar eclipse held great importance in ancient societies, dating back to the Mayan civilisation. For Mayans, it was a bad omen which represented death and decay and to fight the evil, they indulged in bloodletting sacrifices.

The astronomical phenomenon of solar eclipse held great importance in ancient societies, dating back to the Mayan civilisation. For Mayans, it was a bad omen which represented death and decay and to fight the evil, they indulged in bloodletting sacrifices. Astronomy in Maya civilisation The ancient Maya civilisation had some of the best sky-watching societies which comprised of the greatest mathematicians who kept a record of their systematic observations on the motion of the Sun, stars and planets. Using the observations, the mathematicians created a complex calendar system for use in the world. The Sun and the aligned monumental structures like the pyramids were observed closely by astronomers to track solstices and equinoxes. Also Read: Total solar eclipse: Birds, bees, plants might act strange during the eerie darkness on April 8 The accounts of the astronomical observations were kept by the scribes in codices which were hieroglyphic folding books made using fig bark paper. The Dresden Codex is among the four remaining ancient Maya texts and dates back to the 11th century. It is filled with astronomical knowledge as well as religious interpretations and has evidence which proves Mayans could predict solar eclipses. Why did Mayans track the astronomical event? The Mayans maintained accounts of astronomical phenomena so that they remained forewarned and took proper precautions when something happened. The kings and priests would then perform rituals and make sacrifices to the gods to ensure that the cycles of destruction, rebirth and renewal continue. The Mayans believed that sunsets were related to death and decay. As per their belief system, the sun god "Kinich Ahau" took the perilous journey through the Mayan underworld "Xibalba" after sunset and took birth at sunrise. However, they saw the solar eclipse as a "broken sun" which hinted at the sign of cataclysmic destruction. When the Sun got hidden behind the Moon, the Mayans believed that it was dying and it was said that renewal rituals were important to restore nature's balance and bring him back on his cycle. Watch: Parts of US declare state of emergency, huge anticipation in US over total solar eclipse Hence, the civilisation's nobility and kings performed bloodletting sacrifices in which they would pierce their bodies and collect the blood drops which were then burnt as offerings to the Sun god. The offering of the "blood of kings" was said to be the highest form of sacrifice which was aimed at strengthening Kinich Ahau. According to the Mayan belief system, the creator gods sacrificed their blood and added it to maize dough to create the first humans. The nobility in turn was expected to give their blood to the god to nourish them and bring them back to life. (With inputs from agencies)

Solar Eclipse: Mayans used to offer blood to 'dying' Sun god. Here's why

A documentary on polar bears that fitted camaras on to them recorded how these Arctic animals are surviving in the changing weather conditions due to global warming. The standout feature from the rare footage was the change in the diet of polar bears.&nbsp;

Most of them hunt seals as their primary source. Now the sea ice that is their hunting platform is shrinking at a rapid rate due to climate change, forcing them to rely on other calorie-deficit food.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/old-joke-apes-exhibit-teasing-behavior-suggesting-an-ancient-trait-690176">Old joke: Apes exhibit teasing behaviour, suggesting an ancient trait</a>

The study was started in 2019 when scientists from USGS strapped recording devices to 20 polar bears in Canada’s Hudson Bay, where the ice-free period has increased by approximately three weeks since 1979. The cameras recorded 115 hours of footage over three years, from 2019 to 2022, and the findings of the study were published today in the Nature Communications journal.

<h2>Rare footage of polar bears is cute but concerning</h2>

All the little clips recorded by polar bears’ body cams were stitched into one video that shows them eating berries and grasses, chewing marine animals and feeding on bird carcasses. At times, these gargantuan creatures, which can weigh more than 1,500 pounds, seem to act like dogs, occasionally play-fighting in the water and gnawing on antlers.

Watch the video here.

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Source: USGS/ Washington State University

The video is heart-warming but also highlights the fact that climate change has made polar bears vulnerable to their key source of food, which is why, they are changing their food habits to survive in changing environments.&nbsp;

Before recording these videos, scientists thought that polar bears might adapt to life on land by either conserving energy through rest or seeking alternative prey such as seabirds and plants.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/for-first-time-scientists-found-traces-of-water-on-the-surface-of-an-asteroid-690198">For the first time, scientists found traces of water on the surface of an asteroid</a>

The footage and accompanying data collected by the scientists, including measurements of movement, body mass, and energy expenditure, confirmed that polar bears employed both strategies. While some individuals opted to conserve energy by resting, others actively engaged in searching for food.

Neither approach, however, was successful. Approximately 20 bears lost weight, suggesting they would eventually go hungry. One individual lost nearly 80 pounds.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/xposat-begins-space-observations-isro-releases-data-from-first-find-690224">XPoSat begins space observations, ISRO releases data from first find</a>

The study revealed that some bears took long swims, which is “new and unexpected for this time of year,” Andrew Derocher, a polar bear expert at the University of Alberta, who was not involved in the study, told Vox. “These are possibly acts of desperation,” he said.

The polar bear population in this region has already fallen by 30 per cent since 1987, as per researchers’ estimate, which is quite alarming. This study provides some evidence for the decline in the population of polar bears- which could be starvation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A documentary on polar bears that fitted camaras on to them recorded how these Arctic animals are surviving in the changing weather conditions due to global warming.

A documentary on polar bears that fitted camaras on to them recorded how these Arctic animals are surviving in the changing weather conditions due to global warming. The standout feature from the rare footage was the change in the diet of polar bears. Most of them hunt seals as their primary source. Now the sea ice that is their hunting platform is shrinking at a rapid rate due to climate change, forcing them to rely on other calorie-deficit food. Also Read | Old joke: Apes exhibit teasing behaviour, suggesting an ancient trait The study was started in 2019 when scientists from USGS strapped recording devices to 20 polar bears in Canada’s Hudson Bay, where the ice-free period has increased by approximately three weeks since 1979. The cameras recorded 115 hours of footage over three years, from 2019 to 2022, and the findings of the study were published today in the Nature Communications journal. Rare footage of polar bears is cute but concerning All the little clips recorded by polar bears’ body cams were stitched into one video that shows them eating berries and grasses, chewing marine animals and feeding on bird carcasses. At times, these gargantuan creatures, which can weigh more than 1,500 pounds, seem to act like dogs, occasionally play-fighting in the water and gnawing on antlers. Watch the video here. Source: USGS/ Washington State University The video is heart-warming but also highlights the fact that climate change has made polar bears vulnerable to their key source of food, which is why, they are changing their food habits to survive in changing environments. Before recording these videos, scientists thought that polar bears might adapt to life on land by either conserving energy through rest or seeking alternative prey such as seabirds and plants. Also Read | For the first time, scientists found traces of water on the surface of an asteroid The footage and accompanying data collected by the scientists, including measurements of movement, body mass, and energy expenditure, confirmed that polar bears employed both strategies. While some individuals opted to conserve energy by resting, others actively engaged in searching for food. Neither approach, however, was successful. Approximately 20 bears lost weight, suggesting they would eventually go hungry. One individual lost nearly 80 pounds. Also Read | XPoSat begins space observations, ISRO releases data from first find The study revealed that some bears took long swims, which is “new and unexpected for this time of year,” Andrew Derocher, a polar bear expert at the University of Alberta, who was not involved in the study, told Vox. “These are possibly acts of desperation,” he said. The polar bear population in this region has already fallen by 30 per cent since 1987, as per researchers’ estimate, which is quite alarming. This study provides some evidence for the decline in the population of polar bears- which could be starvation. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Polar bears may be dying of starvation, rare footage provides some insight

A new study from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that younger adults, specifically in the age groups of 25-54, are dying at a higher rate in the US. Much of that mortality rate comes from drug overdoses, primarily from fentanyl. Watch this to know more.

Younger adults dying at higher rates: Study

At least eight&nbsp;people have died while climbing the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano,&nbsp;Eurasia's highest active volcano,&nbsp;in eastern Russia's Kamchatka region.

The eight were among a crew of 12 people, including two guides, who on Tuesday set off to scale the 4,754-metre (15,597 ft) volcano. However, on Saturday, some of the group fell to their death at almost 4,200 meters, while the rest are stranded, Reuters reported citing local officials.

One of the guides reportedly broke his leg, while the condition of the remaining climbers is unknown. All of them are Russian nationals.

A search and rescue team was dispatched on Sunday, but strong winds prevented their helicopter from landing.

"They were scheduled to land at an altitude of 3,300 metres, but due to gale force winds at 30 metres per second (67 miles per hour), they failed to do so, although two attempts were made a few hours apart," the rescuers were quoted as saying.

A representative from the local civil defence authority, Tatyana Yukhmanova, told Reuters that the rescuers will try to reach the group again on Sunday provided the weather is conducive enough for a chopper to land.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is part of the natural Volcanoes of Kamchatka Unesco World heritage site. It is the tallest of over 160 volcanoes whose snowy peaks tower over Russia's Kamchatka peninsula.

The mountain, which is composed of mounds of volcanic rocks mixed with snow and ice, is believed to be hazardous to climbers due to its altitude and the risk of volcanic eruption.

Notably, the volcano is considered sacred by some indigenous communities.

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least eight people have died while climbing the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, Eurasia's highest active volcano, in eastern Russia's Kamchatka region. The eight were among a crew of 12 people, including two guides, who on Tuesday set off to scale the 4,754-metre (15,597 ft) volcano.

At least eight people have died while climbing the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, Eurasia's highest active volcano, in eastern Russia's Kamchatka region. The eight were among a crew of 12 people, including two guides, who on Tuesday set off to scale the 4,754-metre (15,597 ft) volcano. However, on Saturday, some of the group fell to their death at almost 4,200 meters, while the rest are stranded, Reuters reported citing local officials. One of the guides reportedly broke his leg, while the condition of the remaining climbers is unknown. All of them are Russian nationals. A search and rescue team was dispatched on Sunday, but strong winds prevented their helicopter from landing. "They were scheduled to land at an altitude of 3,300 metres, but due to gale force winds at 30 metres per second (67 miles per hour), they failed to do so, although two attempts were made a few hours apart," the rescuers were quoted as saying. A representative from the local civil defence authority, Tatyana Yukhmanova, told Reuters that the rescuers will try to reach the group again on Sunday provided the weather is conducive enough for a chopper to land. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is part of the natural Volcanoes of Kamchatka Unesco World heritage site. It is the tallest of over 160 volcanoes whose snowy peaks tower over Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The mountain, which is composed of mounds of volcanic rocks mixed with snow and ice, is believed to be hazardous to climbers due to its altitude and the risk of volcanic eruption. Notably, the volcano is considered sacred by some indigenous communities. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Eight climbers die while scaling Russian volcano; inclement weather delays rescue

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