The year 2024 has gone down in history as the warmest on record, marking a dramatic change in global climate. Exceeding the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time confirms the gravity of the situation and the need for urgent action. As these climate changes create extreme events and affect the lives of millions, world leaders and experts warn that the future depends on the actions we take now. This article looks at the key data and climate records that have made 2024 an unprecedented year.

For the first time, the global average temperature exceeded the threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This threshold is particularly significant as it breaches the limits set by the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global warming "well below 2°C" and ideally no more than 1.5°C. However, it seems this target has already been exceeded.

"Individual years exceeding the 1.5°C limit does not mean that the long-term goal is compromised. It means that we need to fight even harder to get back on track. Extreme temperatures in 2024 require revolutionary climate action in 2025," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

These conclusions are drawn from a new report by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), published alongside 2024 analyses by NASA, NOAA, the UK Met Office and the World Meteorological Organization.

Two ancient cities, Tugunbulak and Tashbulak, located in the eastern mountains of Uzbekistan, were recently mapped using LiDAR technology transported by drones, revealing their size and complexity. These cities are considered among the largest urban centers in the mountainous regions of the Silk Road, a global trade network that facilitated the exchange of goods, technologies, and ideas between Europe and Asia.

Over time, the Silk Road played a crucial role in shaping the modern world by enabling the transfer of innovations like paper and the compass, which accelerated Europe's progression out of the Middle Ages. Cities along this trade route, such as Tugunbulak and Tashbulak, economically thrived due to their strategic locations, though many of these cities declined as maritime trade routes emerged.

Vampires are mythical creatures known throughout the world for their ability to feed on the blood of the living, thus prolonging their eternal life. Traditions about vampires vary from culture to culture, but in general they are described as having pale skin, sharp fangs and supernatural powers. In literature and folklore, vampires are often vulnerable to sunlight, garlic and crosses. Their popularity has grown thanks to famous literary works such as Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and, more recently, movies and TV series exploring themes of immortality, seduction and terror.

Vampires are mythical figures that have captured the collective imagination for centuries and are present in the folklore of many cultures around the world. Often associated with supernatural forces and the mysteries of the afterlife, these creatures have evolved from mere rural superstitions to cultural icons and have become the subject of best-selling books, movies and TV series. But where did the vampire myth originate and why does it continue to fascinate us?

Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are currently the only surviving member of the genus Homo. However, in the past, other human species coexisted alongside us. Over time, advances in archaeology have revealed that the genus Homo was once full of varied species, each playing a role in our evolution.

Since 1859, when Charles Darwin published his famous work The Origin of Species, interest in reconstructing the human family tree has grown significantly. Important discoveries, such as the skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis (known as Lucy) or Homo erectus (Java Man), provided the first clues to our ancestors. However, as more and more extinct human species are being discovered, it is becoming clear that our evolutionary history is much more complicated than originally thought.