Latest news with #CaliforniaStatePolytechnicUniversity
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient 'military outpost' in North Macedonia might be birthplace of Alexander the Great's grandmother
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists working in North Macedonia may have discovered the remains of Lyncus, an ancient city that was the capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. More analysis is needed to support the finding but, if confirmed, the discovery could reveal the location of the place where Alexander the Great's paternal grandmother was born. Lyncestis was a small kingdom that flourished in North Macedonia, which was incorporated into the Macedonian Empire during the reign of King Philip II (359 to 336 B.C.). Eurydice I of Macedon, the mother of Philip II and grandmother of Alexander (who reigned from 336 to 323 B.C.), was likely born in Lyncus, according to historical accounts. Archaeologists have known about the site, located near the village of Crnobuki, since 1966, and it was initially believed to be a military outpost rather than a city, according to a statement from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt). It wasn't until 2023 that a team of researchers conducted a lidar (light detection and ranging) survey, using aerial drones equipped with lasers to create a map of the site's topography. This technique can penetrate foliage covering an archaeological site and has been widely used throughout the world. The survey revealed that the city had an acropolis that's at least 7 acres (2.8 hectares) in size. Besides the remains of a textile workshop and what appears to be a theater, the archaeologists also found a variety of artifacts, including pottery, coins, game pieces and even a theater ticket made of clay. Image 1 of 2 A ceramic token found in 2023 indicates that the site has a yet-to-be excavated theater. Image 2 of 2 A coin found at the site that was minted while Alexander the Great was still alive. Until now, researchers thought that the city was built long after Alexander the Great's death, during the reign of Philip V (221 to 179 B.C.). But the discovery of a coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C. indicates that it was in use during Alexander's lifetime, according to the statement. RELATED STORIES —Ancient tomb really does hold Alexander the Great's father, controversial study claims —Secrets of Alexander the Great mosaic revealed after 1st-of-its-kind analysis —Europe's oldest known village teetered on stilts over a Balkan lake 8,000 years ago Moreover, the team of archaeologists unearthed axes and fragments of ceramic vessels at the site, which shows that this site has been occupied by humans as far back as the Bronze Age (3300 to 1200 B.C.). They plan to continue excavation. The site's discovery may shed more light on an influential kingdom. Engin Nasuh, a curator at Macedonia's National Institute and Bitola Museum and one of the lead archaeologists, said in the statement that ancient Macedonia was "a civilization that played a major role in today's understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures." Editor's note: This story was first published on April 11, 2025.
Fox News
20-04-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Long-lost capital of ancient civilization may have finally been uncovered, archaeologists say: 'Unique find'
Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a lost city dating back thousands of years – and newfound evidence suggests it may be the capital of a once-thriving civilization. The recent excavation was announced by California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, on April 4. It took place at Gradishte, an archaeological site near the North Macedonian village of Crnobuki; it was done with the help of experts from Macedonia's Institute and Museum in Bitola. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Nick Angeloff, an anthropology professor and archaeologist with Cal Poly Humboldt, said it appears likely the site is Lyncus, the lost capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis. The kingdom was conquered by King Philip II of Macedon in 358 B.C. "Every indication is pointing toward this being the city of Lyncus, within Lyncestis," Angeloff said. "Nothing is pointing away from it being Lyncus." Lyncus was the only city associated with Upper Macedonia, according to Angeloff, and had never been found before. "[The discovery is] very rare," the expert said. "It's a unique find." Lyncus, settled in the 7th century B.C., was the birthplace of Eurydice I of Macedon. Though few have heard of the ancient queen, nearly everyone has heard of her grandson, Alexander the Great. "This is the only appropriate location that we have determined may be the ancient city of Lyncus, where Alexander the Great's grandmother was born and raised," he said. "Eurydice I was a very powerful woman in that time in human history," the archaeologist continued. "There's only one city that she could have come from, and we may have found it." She also said, "Without Eurydice, we don't have Philip II, Alexander's father, nor do we have Alexander the Great." Information about the site is rapidly changing. Initially, historians believed the ruins at Gradishte were built during the reign of Macedonian leader King Philip V, who ruled from 221 to 179 B.C. But a coin from Alexander the Great's reign emerged, pushing it back to the 4th century B.C. Now, it looks like the site was also occupied hundreds of years before, during the Bronze Age. At the site, archaeologists used the remote-sensing technology LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to see beneath the ground. Angeloff estimated that roughly 10,000 people lived in the city at its peak, though future excavations are likely to yield more accurate information. "The potential for archaeology across North Macedonia … is highly significant." "It has become very clear, using technology, that the fortress [we found] was designed to hold an entire city," the historian said. "And we see the whole array of infrastructure required to hold a city inside fortress walls during an attack by Rome in particular in this case." Angeloff added, "We were able to overlay and see what was underneath the ground. And the acropolis that it sits on, which is basically a flat hilltop, has enough rooms and infrastructure to hold an entire city inside the fortress walls." Excavators discovered a textile workshop in addition to numerous artifacts, including a coin with Alexander the Great's likeness, axes, game pieces, an oil lamp, even a small ceramic displaying a heart motif. One of the most curious artifacts was a clay theater ticket, which Angeloff said was unique to North Macedonia. "Typically, theater tickets [were] made of a metal, whether bronze or iron, but they're always reused," he said. "There has never been a location in North Macedonia with a theater ticket that has been found that did not have a theater." He added, "Using our LiDAR, we think we may have located the theater, and it looks, for all intents and purposes, like a Macedonian theater, not a Roman theater." "There's been relatively little work and relatively little investment into this region." The archaeologist, stressing the historical importance of the project, said his team plans to return to North Macedonia in May and June for more excavations. "The potential for archaeology across North Macedonia to inform our understanding of the classical [eras], as well as the Roman era, is highly significant," Angeloff said. "There's been relatively little work and relatively little investment into this region." "So we have an opportunity here to expand our knowledge of the times of Alexander the Great, [and] the times of the Roman Empire, exponentially, through our work in Macedonia."
NBC News
16-04-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Our favorite fitness trackers: tested and reviewed
Whether you are training for a marathon or working out for the first time in months, a fitness tracker can show you health and exercise data that can help you better understand your efforts. Most have heart rate, GPS and activity tracking built-in, and many can provide insights into your sleep and recovery. I've tested over a dozen fitness trackers and spoke with health and training experts to pick the best ones on the market. How I picked the best fitness trackers I spoke with health and fitness experts to better understand how fitness watches, bands and rings can support your exercise and wellness journey. Based on their advice, I kept the following criteria in mind while selecting and testing different models: Comfort and wearability: A fitness tracker is only useful if you wear it, says Dr. Koyya Lewis-Trammell, associate professor of kinesiology and health promotion at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. It can have the most advanced tools on the market, but those features are meaningless if you don't wear it regularly. Compatibility: Not every phone is compatible with every fitness tracker — the Apple Watch only works on iPhone, for example. We include options that are compatible with both iOS and Android devices, so you can find a suitable option. Data tracking: Fitness trackers collect different kinds of biometric data and present it in different ways. We chose products that collect a range of fitness insights. Some show basic metrics like steps and heart rate, while others display more complex analysis of your workouts and efforts. How I test fitness trackers I've tested over a dozen fitness trackers and smartwatches for NBC Select. I am a runner and cyclist, and use fitness trackers to monitor my pace, heart rate and distance. I test each one for at least two weeks, using all of the features available, including sleep tracking. I often wear multiple fitness trackers at the same time to compare data like heart rate, average pace, mileage, elevation and sleep score. To pick the best fitness trackers, I paid close attention to the following factors: GPS tracking: I noted how quickly each tracker connected to GPS and how consistent the data was, especially compared to other trackers. Comfort: I wore each tracker day and night to see if they became uncomfortable, disrupted my sleep or irritated my skin. Features: I tested as many features as possible but focused on fitness and wellness tracking tools and stats. Battery life: I tried each tracker for at least two weeks and noted how often I needed to charge the device. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up The best fitness trackers of 2025 Our top picks come from well-known brands like Fitbit, Apple and Garmin. I have tested each one, and some also come recommended by experts in the health and fitness space. In an effort to try as many options as possible, we contacted and received products from many brands, including (but not limited to) the ones on this list. Best for beginners: Fitbit Charge 6 Many NBC Select staffers use Fitbit fitness trackers and love them because they are lightweight and easy to use. The Charge 6 is just that: a small, beginner-friendly fitness tracker that's light on weight and light on price. Despite having rarely used Fitbit products in the past, the Charge 6 felt comfortable after only a few minutes of swiping through the watch and app. The screen and stats are bright, colorful and easy to understand. The Charge 6 tracks and showcases your heart rate, daily steps, distance traveled, fitness activities, calories burned and nightly sleep. It does not track more advanced running stats like cadence, stride length, ground contact time and vertical oscillation (our picks from Apple and Garmin do). Some data like detailed sleep stages and a daily readiness score are only available with a Fitbit Premium subscription, which costs $10 per month. New to the Charge 6 is Google Wallet, Google Maps navigation and YouTube Music controls. It also now has a button on the left side that returns you to the home screen or pause workout screen. You can read more in our Fitbit Charge 6 review. The Apple Watch is one fitness tracker that almost always stays on my wrist, and this is the brand's lowest-priced model. It costs much less than the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, but has almost all the same fitness tracking features and metrics. The Apple Watch SE is easy to use, especially if you have used an iPhone before. The apps are similar or identical, and the square shape of the watch makes it easy to scroll through notifications and texts. It shows detailed workout, health and sleep metrics via the Apple Health and Apple Fitness, no subscription required. You can also use the Siri voice assistant to make requests and send voice texts, which is much easier than typing a text mid-run, in my experience. The watch has up to 18 hours of battery life, according to the brand — that's less than most competitors. To avoid battery life woes, I typically charge it every morning after waking up. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, with many watch band options. The Pixel Watch 3 is the best Pixel watch yet, and is a recent NBC Select Wellness Awards winner. It has major software and fitness improvements over the previous model that make it a solid option, especially for someone with an Android or Google Pixel phone. It does everything you would expect of a premium smartwatch: notifications, texting, calls, tap-to-pay, media controls, offline maps and more. The watch has built-in Fitbit fitness tracking with more than 40 workout types, and it has more in-depth fitness tracking data compared to other Fitbit products like the Fitbit Charge 6. It can also automatically detect walks, runs, bike rides, treadmill, elliptical, rowing and spin exercise after five minutes (15 for walking). As someone who often forgets to log walks, I love how hands-off this feature can be. But the new fitness and wellness features are what makes the Google Pixel Watch 3 one of our top picks. There are too many features to list here, but one of my favorites is building custom workouts, including custom runs with warm ups, cool downs, intervals and heart rate targets. As I ran, the watch buzzed and cued me into my next section and indicated if I was on, ahead or behind my target goals. Other favorite features include cardio load and daily readiness scores. It comes in two sizes, 41 millimeters and 45 millimeters, with screens that are up to twice as bright as the previous version. Battery life is also improved — it lasts up to 24 hours, according to the brand. Garmin makes some of the best fitness trackers for runners and athletes. The Garmin Forerunner 165 is one of their latest models, and it pairs some of the brand's best features with a competitive price point. The Forerunner 165 has more fitness and training features than most of the competition, including the options on our list. One feature I like is the morning report: every morning, the watch shows me a series of stats, including a daily exercise recommendation, my sleep score, the weather and more. Another is called body battery, an energy score that changes throughout the day based on exercise, stress, rest and sleep. The morning report and body battery helped me create a better workout routine. Exercise stats are very specific, especially for running — you have multiple metrics and charts for things like pace, speed, heart rate, cadence, stride, intensity and more. All that data does mean Garmin has a slight learning curve, at least for the first few days. However, I felt comfortable navigating the app after a week of use. Like most Garmin watches, the Forerunner 165 has excellent battery life — I averaged about 10 days before needing to charge. It also connects to GPS quickly, usually within five seconds. You can read more in my Garmin Forerunner 165 review. Best for data analysis: Whoop 4.0 For in-depth data analysis, consider Whoop 4.0, says celebrity personal trainer Rhys Athayde. Whoop is not a typical fitness watch. It is a small, screenless tracker built into a stretchy polyester and nylon band. It doesn't track daily steps, stairs climbed or active minutes, nor does it ping you with notifications. Whoop analyzes your daily health and recovery metrics to give you scores on things like body strain, recovery and sleep in the Whoop app. It showed me how hard my workout sessions are for my body rather than how fast or far I run. Looking at these recovery-focused scores, I found myself thinking more about the quality of my workouts rather than the quantity. NBC Select editor Jordan Bowman and I found the Whoop very comfortable to wear — Bowman wore it more often than other trackers because it never felt out of place on his wrist. Whoop requires a subscription to use, which costs $30 per month or $239 per year. You have to pay the first year up front as part of buying the device. If you want to track health, wellness, sleep and basic fitness stats, but hate wearing watches, consider a smart ring like the Oura Ring 4. I tested it for over two months — it's one of the best smart rings on the market right now, especially for sleep and wellness tracking. The Oura Ring 4 tracks stats like heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen, sleep stages, stress levels and exercise metrics and stores them on the Oura app. It automatically tracks walks as well, but it's best to manually start and stop other exercises like runs, yoga and strength training. It categorizes and gives you broad scores for three main categories: readiness, sleep, and activity. Because it doesn't have a screen, it cannot show live stats like pace, distance or heart rate zones, meaning it's not a great fit for avid runners or cyclists The Oura Ring comes in six colors and a range of sizes. While you can use the Oura Ring without a subscription, you'll be limited to the current day's sleep, readiness and activity scores. An Oura Ring membership costs $6 a month. You can learn more in my Oura Ring 4 review. How to shop for a fitness tracker When shopping for any fitness tracker, price and compatibility should be top of mind. But beyond that, our experts recommend prioritizing the following: Prioritize comfort Both Lewis-Trammell and Athayde say that comfort and wearability are the most important factors of any fitness tracker. If you don't ever wear rings, you probably won't find the Oura Ring comfortable. Similarly, if you don't like to wear a watch, a smartwatch like the Apple Watch or Google Pixel Watch might be uncomfortable. 'Ultimately, you're looking for a device you're going to wear long term so that it can provide you with the most accurate data,' says Athayde. Because trackers come in so many shapes and sizes, I recommend going to a store in-person to try a few different options and see what form-factor makes sense for you. Having tested over a dozen options, I am surprised how different each model feels, even ones with similar wristbands. Identify your goals and needs It's not just athletes that benefit from fitness trackers, says Athayde. Everyone can benefit from the data fitness trackers provide, if you understand your wants and needs, in my experience. Before shopping around, think about what data you care about. If you love outdoor exercise stats like pace and power, a Garmin watch may match your habits best. If you want broad exercise and health data, plus all the latest apps, a smartwatch from Apple or Google is a good fit. What's best for you depends on your daily habits and larger goals, according to our experts. Take stock of them before you checkout. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on running shoes, workout earbuds, point-and-shoot cameras and more. For this piece, I interviewed fitness and health experts to get a better understanding of workout data and metrics. I also tested over a dozen top-rated fitness trackers and smartwatches. For a broader perspective, I spoke with other NBC Select staffers about their experience using fitness trackers.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 3,000-Year-Old Lost City That May Hold Secrets of a Royal Past
Archeologists thought an excavation site was just a military outpost–but after further study, they realized it was actually an entire ancient city. Artifacts found at the site date the city back to Alexander the Great's lifetime, though some experts suggest humans may have occupied the area as early as the Bronze Age. The ancient city might be the lost capital city Lyncus—birthplace to Alexander the Great's grandmother, according to a press release. Just like scientific hypotheses are ever-evolving, so is our understanding of history. 15 years ago, researchers began excavating what they thought were the remains of a military outpost, built to guard against Roman attacks—but their recent findings prove to be much more exciting. The site in Northern Macedonia, known as the archaeological site of Gradishte, might actually be an entire ancient city. And not just any city; it may have a direct connection to the lineage of Alexander the Great. Using advanced drone-deployed LiDAR and ground penetrating radar technologies, researchers from Macedonia's Institute and Museum–Bitola and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) are uncovering the mysteries of this once thriving city. The team announced their findings in a university press release. 'We're only beginning to scratch the surface of what we can learn about this period,' Engin Nasuh—curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum–Bitola—said in the press release. Ancient Macedonia was a small, initially insignificant kingdom in Greece. Fighting among major powers in the region—such as between the Athenians and Persians or the Spartans and Athenians, respectively—made it easy for Macedonia (under the heavy hand of King Philip II to stake its claim to power. The kingdom eventually expanded into an empire, most notably under Philip II's son, Alexander the Great, but eventually fell under Roman control due to internal power struggles. According to the release, experts initially dated the city back to King Philip V's reign (221-179 B.C.), but later archaeological findings pushed estimates further back. A coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C. points to the city's existence during Alexander the Great's lifetime. But other artifacts including axe fragments and ceramic vessels have led researchers to believe humans could have inhabited the area as far back as the Bronze Age (3,300-1,200 B.C.). Of the structures uncovered at the site, a Macedonian-style theater and textile workshop are among the most notable. Archaeologists have also discovered coins, axes and textile tools, game pieces, pottery, and even a clay theater ticket at the site, suggesting that the area was a thriving city before Rome's rise to power, according to Nasuh. 'This discovery is significant,' Cal Poly Humboldt archaeology professor Nick Angeloff said in the release. 'It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia, especially given the city's location along trade routes to Constantinople. It's even possible that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa passed through the area on their way to confront Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium.' Experts also suggest that the ancient city could be Lyncus, the lost capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis—an autonomous kingdom in Upper Macedonia that was later conquered by Philip II. The city may have also been the birthplace of Alexander the Great's grandmother, Queen Eurydice I, who played an important role in shaping the political landscape of the region, according to the release. 'All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations,' Nasuh said. 'I see it as a large mosaic, and our studies are just a few pebbles in that mosaic. With each subsequent study, a new pebble is placed, until one day we get the entire picture.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Has the lost ancient Macedonian capital city of Lyncus been discovered?
First discovered in the 1960s, archaeologists have spent the last 15 years believing the Gradishte site was a military outpost to defend against Roman attack from the era of King Philip V (221 BCE to 179 BCE). However, the site near the Macedonian village of Crnobuki, has turned out to be of far more historical significance. Archaeologists believe they've found the city of Lyncus. In the 7th century BCE, Lyncus was the capital city of Lyncestis, founded in the northernmost mountain region of Upper Macedonia. Lyncestis was an independent polity that held a useful trade route position on the way east to Lydia, now Türkiye. Lyncus was the birthplace of Eurydice, the grandmother of Alexander the Great. Eurydice's son Philip II of Macedon conquered Lyncestis in the 4th century BCE, bringing the independent state into the Kingdom of Macedon. This set the stage for his son, Alexander the Great, to become the king of the Macedonian empire. 'It is a civilization that played a major role in today's understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures,' Engin Nasuh, curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum–Bitola says. The discovery of an Alexander the Great-era coin first suggested that the site was from an older period. In 2023, North Macedonia's Institute and Museum-Bitola and the California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt researchers used radar and LiDAR scanning to uncover the site. What they discovered was a seven acre acropolis that included a Macedonian theatre and a textile workshop. They continued to discover multiple stone axes, coins, pottery shards, and textile tools. There's now evidence that the site was occupied by humans since at least the Bronze Age (3,300-1,200 BCE). 'It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia, especially given the city's location along trade routes to Constantinople,' Nick Angeloff, an archaeologist at Cal Poly Humboldt called the Gradishte discovery. 'This discovery is significant,' says Angeloff. 'It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia, especially given the city's location along trade routes to Constantinople. It's even possible that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa passed through the area on their way to confront Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium.' 'All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations,' Nasuh says. 'I see it as a large mosaic, and our studies are just a few pebbles in that mosaic. With each subsequent study, a new pebble is placed, until one day we get the entire picture.'
