No Waste Left Behind: Insect Frass Can Improve Soil Fertility
Contact: Jessica Ryan Email: Jessica.Ryan@usda.gov
January 29, 2025
Insect droppings, commonly known as insect frass, may seem useless and downright disgusting, but scientists found that this waste can improve soil health when added as a fertilizer in farming.
Insect frass is a mixture of excreta, feed, and molted skins. These droppings are a by-product of farming insects like yellow mealworms, banded crickets, and black soldier flies. Farmers raise and breed insects, also known as “mini-livestock,” to be an alternative protein source for animals and be a more sustainable practice in agriculture.
Insect frass may also be used as fertilizer. Previous studies by this team led by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) show insect frass can have higher carbon and nitrogen content than fossil fuel-based fertilizers and fewer pathogens than other animal manures.
These researchers, along with collaborators from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, also studied insect frass’ potential as an organic fertilizer source when used as a soil amendment in farming.
Insect frass. (Photo by Taylor Adams, ARS)
In a two-year field study, researchers found that frass from yellow mealworm increased the amount of carbon by two times and nitrogen by three times in soils than other sources like poultry litter and ammonium nitrate. Furthermore, soils with frass addition produced crop yields and carbon dioxide emission rates similar to soils amended with poultry litter and ammonium nitrate.
“Insect frass substantially improved soil fertility which showed its ability to be used as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers,” Amanda Ashworth, a soil scientist at the ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit in Fayetteville, Arkansas, said.
Agricultural Science Research Technician Taylor Adams spreads insect frass during a field study. (Photo by Cailee Stone)
“This is important since insect farming is on the rise and circular agricultural systems (agricultural by-products that are recycled back into production systems) can be sustainable avenues for growing foods in the future.”
According to Meticulous Research’s Global Edible Insects Market Forecast to 2030 report, the insect farming industry is expanding in response to increasing demands for sustainable protein sources for animal feed. The industry is projected to grow 28% annually and have an estimated market value of $8 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.
The study was recently published in Scientific Reports and done in collaboration with crop, soil and environmental science researchers with the Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the ARS Biological Control of Pests Research Unit in Stoneville, Mississippi.
The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.
Yukon RCMP recently supported the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) 2024 Polar Plunge held on December 21, 2024. Out of the 25 total “plungers”, 7 were from the Whitehorse RCMP Detachment. They collectively raised more than $2, 900 towards to grand total of $19,000 for Special Olympics Yukon.
The Yukon RCMP are also happy to participate in another event, this time involving ice instead of water.
A charity hockey game between the RCMP and Whitehorse Fire Department is being hosted by the Yukon Chapter of the Law Enforcement Torch Run as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Yukon. Admission is by donation and there will other fundraiser activities during the game.
Game on!
Date: Saturday, February 1
Time: Doors open at 12:30 pm, game starts at 1:00 pm
Data from the largest patient-reported real-world data exploration underlines new opportunities for medical research to accelerate drug development
Over 93 percent of more than 6,000 respondents are interested in learning about clinical trials relevant to their condition, but unexpected barriers delay participation
GAASH, Israel, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StuffThatWorks, the largest, most up-to-date crowd-sourced patient-centric real-world data optimized for the medical and research community, today released the results of a new custom survey, Barriers in Clinical Trials, which shows that patients are primed to participate in clinical research1. The survey taps the reactions of over 6,000 patients with chronic conditions and reveals that an overwhelming majority of respondents consider clinical trials a path to accessing new medical treatments, with more than 93 percent interested in learning about trials that are relevant to their condition.
In addition, nearly 57 percent of respondents report that they are severely impacted by their medical condition, with nearly 43 percent believing they have exhausted all other treatment options, highlighting an urgent need for additional treatment pathways. The survey’s findings also reinforce the need for more proactive engagement and education; nearly 96 percent of respondents reported they received little or no information from providers about clinical trials in the last six months.
“The survey data reveal a desire among patients to access clinical trials as viable treatment options, underscoring the need for medical professionals to actively consider clinical research for addressing their patients’ needs,” said Yael Elish, Founder and CEO of StuffThatWorks and a WAZE founding team member. “This unique patient perspective and experience collected in structured form along with other organized health information provides valuable insights and underlines a new way for clinicians and researchers to engage with patients to better inform the development of study protocols to benefit patients and advance the science of medicine.”
The survey was conducted among patients with chronic conditions through StuffThatWorks, the world’s first large scale patient-generated Real World Data platform. StuffThatWorks empowers patients to transform their experiences and health information into structured organized Real World Data optimized for patient centric Real World Data research. Research organizations receive near real time comprehensive access to organized aggregated, de-identified data and corresponding patients.
With over 3 million members across 1,250+ conditions and 1.3 billion data points in the U.S. and globally, StuffThatWorks is the largest and most up-to-date patient-generated crowd-sourced Real World Data optimized for generation of unique patient journey insights. From rare to common chronic conditions, patient insights covering various topics, including symptoms, treatments, and disease burden, can be generated in real-time and broken down by racial and ethnic demographics, geography, lifestyle, symptoms, and more. In addition to real-time access to the data set, on-demand custom surveys like this current Barriers to Clinical Trial initiative can be fielded to gain real-world insights from patients.
Patients on StuffThatWorks share anonymized health information at scale on an ongoing basis. Instead of exhausting patients by re-asking mundane questions, our approach allows us to benefit from the already collected patient data and to conduct follow-up surveys for the missing information only. In addition, customers benefit from built in powerful analysis and insight generation tools that cross all conditions.
“Until now, researching the experience of people living with chronic conditions in the real world meant interviewing individual patients or running one-off limited surveys, which are time-consuming, costly, and, more importantly, limited in their ability to represent the diversity of patient populations and to provide insight beyond the limited number of questions possible,” added Elish. “Patient crowdsourcing at scale can reveal unmatched insights on any patient-centric topic, in this case – the insights needed to address barriers to patient participation in clinical trials.”
The custom survey Barriers in Clinical Trials included 6,004 respondents with an average age of 61. Patients who participated in the survey suffered from a wide range of chronic conditions, including COPD, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, osteoarthritis, COVID-19, multiple sclerosis, migraine, high blood pressure, and clinical depression.
The study also revealed that:
Most respondents (98 percent) perceive clinical trials as a path through which they can significantly benefit by being included in the development of new medical options
Nearly one-third (29 percent) shared that their primary motivation for participating in clinical trials is to help advance science
Almost one-quarter (23 percent) want to participate in clinical research because they have no other treatment options available
For nearly one-quarter (23 percent), their physician recommended their participation in a trial, but the obstacles to involvement are travel costs and lost wages the patient would shoulder
One fifth (19 percent) of respondents shared that having their medical treatment and/or receiving an honorarium would motivate them to participate in a study
In addition, 41 percent shared being in a stressful or challenging financial situation, and more than 31 percent said their financials impact decision-making
Only 13 percent had a doctor explain why a clinical trial could be helpful for their condition, and an overwhelming majority (nearly 96 percent) revealed they did not receive information from doctors about clinical trials in the last six months
Participants indicated they are flexible regarding the possible format of clinical trials and would participate in in-person, virtual, or hybrid settings.
“The survey’s data show that patients are not simply willing; they are eager to participate in clinical trials, provided they are informed and supported throughout the process,” said Chantal Beaudry, Senior Partner, Health Communications and Patient Recruitment at FINN Partners. “This dataset provides unique, real-world perspectives invaluable to organizations seeking to engage patients more effectively and optimize their clinical trials.” FINN Partners is working with StuffThatWorks to ensure these data are shared broadly to encourage greater participation in clinical trials and accelerate the delivery of new indications and therapies to patients.
Additional data from the survey is being analyzed to provide information regarding insights and barriers in specific patient populations. This comprehensive database of patient-reported outcomes is now available for custom research and real-time data analysis. These custom surveys are a new offering and can be enriched with past and future data from the comprehensive StuffThatWorks database.
Created by Waze founding team members, StuffThatWorks uses crowdsourcing and AI to transform shared patient experiences and data into the first organized large scale, multidimensional, longitudinal, real-world data set facilitating a neutral representation of diverse populations and treatments, insights generation and direct engagement with patients throughout their journey.
StuffThatWorks is the home to 3M members across 1,250 condition communities that have so far shared 1.3B data points. Already the largest organized Patient Level Real World Data platform, StuffThatWorks is differentiated by its powerful data collection, structuring and organization infrastructure. The unique, proprietary data set and unique AI and powerful Chat GPT like capabilities enable the efficient generation of insights for research, market access and drug development.
Data on file
Contact: Glenn Silver, Media Relations FINN Partners +1 973 818 8198
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement announcing that she will be joining the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations as its ranking member and top Democrat. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over funding for the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development, among other agencies.
“I am thrilled to be serving as ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies for the 119th Congress. This is an opportunity to address some of our state’s most pressing issues, including aging infrastructure and the skyrocketing cost of housing. I look forward to delivering major federal funding to revitalize New York’s roads, bridges, and rail infrastructure and to expand affordable housing nationwide.”
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement upon the announcement that he would be the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for the 119th Congress:
“Around the world today we face real threats to our nation and the post-World War Two international order that has provided us with decades of peace, prosperity, and security. Our security is threatened both by authoritarian adversaries like Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, and from a rising tide of isolationism here at home.
As the senior Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will work every day so that the robust American engagement with the world that has kept us safe for so long continues. I will make sure that our military remains the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world and has the weapons and resources required to project our values and defend our interests from the Arctic to Africa, from the Indo-Pacific to the North Atlantic. Lastly, I will send a clear message to the brave men and women of our armed forces, our intelligence services, and in our foreign services who serve every day without fear or favor: we have your back.
“I look forward to partnering with Senator McConnell who will chair this crucial subcommittee. Senator McConnell has long been dedicated to a strong defense and to ensuring we continue to defend our critical global network of allies and partners.”
Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), and Don Davis (D-NC) have introduced the Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act.
The bill allows Public Assistance funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be used for permanent repair of private roads and bridges that Hurricane Helene destroyed. Private roads and bridges provide access to and from many mountain homes.
Background:
FEMA Individual Assistance is capped at $42,500 for all expenses.
The cost to rebuild private roads and bridges often exceeds this amount.
The state of NC estimates a $350 million gap between what is funded and what is required to rebuild the private roads and bridges relied on by many in mountainous regions.
The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act will help fill this gap by allowing FEMA public assistance to cover these costs.
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“Mountain homes often require private roads and bridges to connect their property to main roads and highways. Given FEMA’s Individual Assistance cap and the extensive cost of rebuilding these access points, I am proud to propose a bill that will allow the people of Western North Carolina to use Public Assistance dollars to regain access to their homes.”
Senator Tillis said:
“Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation, leaving many communities in Western North Carolina severely impacted and cut off from one another. This commonsense legislation ensures that FEMA public assistance funding can be used to repair private roads and bridges destroyed by the hurricane, allowing families in the hardest-hit areas to reconnect to main roads and highways as they continue to recover.”
Rep. Edwards said:
“Every disaster response official I’ve heard from agrees on one thing: Hurricane Helene destroyed the greatest number of private roads and bridges they’ve ever seen in one disaster. We’re entering month six since Helene hit our mountains, and there are still folks with limited access to many of our mountain homes. The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act would ease the burden on WNC families by allowing NCDOT and local governments to be reimbursed by FEMA for any repairs they make to private roads or bridges. The federal support provided in this bill is critical to making sure Western North Carolina can be rebuilt.”
Rep. Davis said:
“The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act will provide local governments and the NC Department of Transportation the authority to repair essential infrastructure and receive reimbursement for those efforts, helping to ensure a smoother return to safety, stability, and peace of mind for those who depend on these vital connections to get to work, school, and go about their daily lives. We must ensure a timely and effective recovery for western NC.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
First Independent International AI Safety Report to become the global handbook on AI safety, ahead of the France AI Action Summit.
First Independent International AI Safety Report to become the global handbook on AI safety, ahead of the France AI Action Summit
Inspired by the UN’s IPCC Report, the publication sets a new standard for scientific rigor in assessing AI safety
Brings together input from 100 world-leading AI experts put forward by 30 countries including France, China, the USA and UK, as well as the UN, EU, and OECD
Spearheaded by Yoshua Bengio – a Turing Award-winning AI academic and the most cited computer scientist in the world – the report brings together insights from 100 independent international experts. Launched at the AI Safety Summit in November 2023, the report is mandated by more than 30 countries including France, China and the United States, with operational support provided by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
As policymakers worldwide grapple with rapid and unpredictable advancements in AI, today’s report contributes to bridging the gap by offering a scientific understanding of emerging risks to guide decision making.
The report also highlights how quickly the technology has evolved in recent years and months, including how AI systems are increasingly capable of acting as AI agents – autonomously planning and carrying out complex tasks.
Its publication looks to plug the gaps by building up a scientific basis of evidence to support policymakers in advancing AI safety, while the full implications of advanced AI systems are still being discovered.
Report’s Chair, Yoshua Bengio, Full Professor at Université de Montréal and Scientific Director of Mila – Quebec AI Institute, said:
The capabilities of general-purpose AI have increased rapidly in recent years and months. While this holds great potential for society, AI also presents significant risks that must be carefully managed by governments worldwide.
This report by independent experts aims to facilitate constructive and evidence-based discussion around these risks and serves as a common basis for policymakers around the world to understand general-purpose AI capabilities, risks and possible mitigations.
Key areas identified for further research include how rapidly capabilities will advance, how general-purpose AI models work internally, and how they can be designed to behave reliably.
While there are still many challenges in mitigating the risks of general-purpose AI, the report highlights promising areas for future research and concludes that progress can be made. The report emphasises widespread agreement that improving our understanding of how AI works should be a top priority, as international governments and AI companies prepare to gather for the AI Action Summit.
Ultimately, the report emphasises that while AI capabilities could advance at varying speeds, their development and potential risks are not a foregone conclusion. The Report concludes by saying that the outcomes depend on the choices made by policymakers both today and in the future.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle said:
The transformative potential of AI is clear, which is why we have placed it at the heart of our government’s Plan for Change. It will help us kickstart economic growth, transform public services, and boost the living standards of working people across the country, but I remain clear eyed that safety must be baked in from the outset.
The UK is already at the forefront of building the global consensus needed on responsible AI, and this report will go a step further as we prepare for the AI Action Summit. It will support decision-makers with the scientific evidence they need to seize the opportunities of AI, which is a charge we are already leading by putting the technology to work to deliver more jobs, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.
French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, Clara Chappaz said:
Artificial intelligence is a central topic of our time, and its safety is a crucial foundation for building trust and fostering adoption. Scientific research must remain the fundamental pillar guiding these efforts. I salute the work of Yoshua Bengio and the international team who produced this report, work which must be perpetuated in the long term in the general interest.
This first comprehensive scientific assessment provides the evidence base needed for societies and governments to shape AI’s future direction responsibly. These insights will inform crucial discussions at the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris.
Notes to editors
The UK government will continue to provide the Secretariat for the report until a suitable long-term international home is agreed, and Professor Yoshua Bengio will continue acting as chair for 2025. This will be informed by ongoing global dialogues on AI governance, including those within the UN Global Digital Compact, the Network of AI Safety Institutes, and other forums, along with ongoing stakeholder consultations.
Charter for Budget Responsibility has been approved in the House of Commons, enshrining new fiscal rules into law.
Rules demonstrate the government’s commitment to stability and investment to drive growth.
New fiscal rules confirmed as the Chancellor commits to going further and faster to kick start economic growth and make working people better off as part of the Plan for Change.
Today (Wednesday 29 January) the House of Commons voted to enshrine the Charter for Budget Responsibility and the new fiscal rules into law.
These fiscal rules provide the stability which underpins the Plan for Change and the Government’s number one priority to kickstart economic growth.
There are two new non-negotiable fiscal rules. The first is the stability rule which ensures that day to day spending is matched by tax revenues, so the Government is only borrowing to invest.
The second is the investment rule which requires the government to reduce net financial debt as a share of the economy, keeping debt on a sustainable path while allowing much needed investment to grow the economy.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:
In our Plan for Change we were clear that our top priority is growth built on stability. Today I have announced how I will go further and faster on growth and our fiscal rules, which have been enshrined in law, are now non-negotiable and the bedrock of that stability.
Through the Charter, fiscal and economic stability will be enhanced by confirming the government’s intention to move to one major fiscal event per year, giving families and businesses certainty of tax and spending plans.
Stability is also reinforced by confirmation that the Treasury will conduct Spending Reviews every two years, setting spending plans for at least three, to ensure public services have certainty on their funding.
Fiscal transparency and accountability will also be strengthened as the Chancellor has accepted all of the recommendations of the OBR’s review of the March 2024 forecast for Departmental Expenditure Limits, including to improve the spending information that the Treasury shares with the OBR.
In addition, the Charter now requires the OBR to report on the long-term impacts of capital investment and other policies at fiscal events, showing how economic growth and the health of the public balance sheet is bolstered by good investment decisions.
The Charter also outlines the detail of the fiscal lock – the first legislation passed by this government – so that no government can announce fiscally-significant measures without being subject to an independent assessment by the OBR, ensuring they can never again be sidelined.
8.8 miles (14.1km) stretch between Birkenhead and Welsh border gives public access to iconic coastline in the North West and North Wales.
The trail passes through New Brighton where walkers can enjoy views out over the Irish Sea before the vista changes to the Dee Estuary near to Burton Point.
A new section of the King Charles III England Coast Path has been opened, giving the public a legal right to the iconic coastline of the North West and North Wales.
The 8.8 miles (14.1km) stretch completes the Birkenhead to Welsh border section connecting existing KCIIIIEP sections northwards to the ferry across the Mersey and southwards beyond to the Welsh border, from where a link path allows you to continue south along the Wales Coast Path.
The iconic scenery changes as the path is followed from Birkenhead towards Wales; passing through urban and suburban promenades to beaches, low clifftop grassy paths, isolated patches of scrub and woodland and boulder clay cliffs, with spectacular views across North Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia, on a clear day
Initially, walkers on the eastern side of the peninsula will be able to take in the spectacle of Liverpool’s historic docks, just across the Mersey.
After turning the corner at New Brighton, there will be views out over the Irish Sea before the vista changes to the Dee Estuary near to Burton Point.
Walkers can experience Wirral Way
The trail passes by the edge of Leasowe Common and North Wirral Coastal Park, where the old Leasowe lighthouse is still a prominent landmark.
It meanders through low sand dunes, at the edge of Red Rocks Nature Reserve before rejoining the promenade at South Parade. Walkers can also experience Wirral Way, which is a major existing walking and cycling route along Wirral’s southwestern coast.
South of Station Road, the route rejoins the coast, continuing through Wirral County Park, with its visitor centre and café.
Shortly after leaving Wirral Country Park, the route takes walkers on a pleasant path through Tinker’s Dell, where traditional access to the foreshore has now been repaired and reinstated by Wirral Council, alongside the development of the KCIIIECP
The final stretch of the KCIIIECP connects walkers to the Welsh Border, near to Burton Point, adjacent to the military firing range.
However, it’s possible to continue the journey via a link path, which connects to the Wales Coast Path at Hawarden. Marking both sides of the border are some unique artworks by Mike Johnson.
Benefits of spending time in nature
Gerry Rusbridge, Senior advisor for Natural England in the North West, said:
We know that spending time in nature benefits both our physical and mental health.
The new path opens up beautiful new countryside to the public, aiming to make it easier for as many people as possible to experience some of the most stunning and dynamic parts of the North West and Welsh coastlines.
The trail will also support the local economy – bringing walkers and visitors to the towns and villages for daytrips, refreshments and places to stay.
Natural England worked on this section of the King Charles III England Coast Path with key partners including Natural Resources Wales, Flintshire County Council and Wirral Council.
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for Wirral Council, said:
We are already incredibly proud of our coastline in Wirral. As a peninsula it is naturally one of our defining features and along our coast we can boast we have some of the most diverse and distinctive landmarks across the whole North West.
We are honoured that a significant stretch of our three sides of coastline is now officially incorporated into the nationwide walking trail, the King Charles III England Coastal Path and we look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors to the borough to enjoy our scenery, our seaside, our internationally-significant wildlife and nature – and our hospitality.
Cllr Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council Cabinet member for Planning, Economy and Environment said:
Flintshire County Council welcomes the King Charles III English Coast Path to our border, this will be a fantastic opportunity for communities and visitors alike to explore this wonderful link between our two countries.
Jont Bulbeck, Outdoor Access and Recreation Team leader for Natural Resources Wales, said:
Being able to link up with the King Charles III England Coast Path presents lots more opportunities for people to extend and enjoy their walking experience from both sides of the border.
From the link route, the Wales Coast Path welcomes people to enjoy the North Wales coastline offering something for everyone, a taste of Welsh heritage and culture, accessible sections suitable for wheelchair users and families with prams with fantastic views of the Dee Estuary and Menai Strait.
Start your adventure and discover your perfect trail with National Trails. So that everyone can make the most of the King Charles III England Coast Path, please follow the Countryside Code. This includes not bringing BBQs or dropping litter, and not lighting fires or camping stoves.
Singapore, 2 January 2025 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are expected to continue in the first fortnight of January 2025, with winds blowing mainly from the northwest or northeast.
2 Moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days. The showers may extend into the night on a few days. In the last few days of the fortnight, a strengthening of high-pressure systems over the northern Asian continent may bring a surge of strong north-easterly winds (or monsoon surge[1]) over the South China Sea, and wetter conditions over Singapore and the surrounding region. The total rainfall for the first fortnight of January 2025 is forecast to be above average over most parts of the island.
3 The daily temperatures are likely to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius on most days. Cooler conditions are expected in the last few days of the fortnight and the daily minimum temperatures could drop to 22 degrees Celsius.
4 For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.
REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (16 – 31 DECEMBER 2024)
5 Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the second fortnight of December 2024. During the period, the low-level winds blew mainly from the north or northeast.
6 Thundery showers fell over parts of Singapore on most afternoons. The showers extended into the evening on a few days. On 29 December 2024, strong solar heating of land areas coupled with regional convergence of winds brought widespread heavy thundery showers over Singapore in the afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 136.2 mm recorded at Bukit Timah that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the second fortnight of December 2024.
7 The daily maximum temperatures in the second fortnight of December 2024 were between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.4 degree Celsius was recorded at Clementi on 16 December 2024.
8 About half of the island recorded above average rainfall in the second fortnight of December 2024. Tuas registered rainfall of about 40 per cent above average, and Pasir Ris registered rainfall of about 55 per cent below average.
[1] A monsoon surge refers to a strengthening of winds over the South China Sea, causing extensive rainclouds to form over our surrounding region. Read more at http://www.weather.gov.sg/learn_weather_systems/
CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS
Long-term Statistics for January (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:
30.6
°C
Average daily minimum temperature:
24.3
°C
Average monthly temperature:
26.8
°C
Average rainfall:
221.6
mm
Average number of rain days:
13
Historical Extremes for January (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:
31.8
°C (2016, 2018)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:
21.6
°C (1933)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
818.6
mm (2006)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
15.4
mm (1932)
~~ End ~~
For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
Singapore, 16 January 2025 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are expected to continue in the second fortnight of January 2025, with winds blowing mainly from the northwest or northeast.
2 Between 17 – 19 January 2025, a surge of north-easterly winds (or monsoon surge[1]) is expected over the South China Sea. This may bring windy and cooler conditions with occasional spells of moderate to heavy thundery showers over Singapore and the surrounding vicinity. For the rest of the fortnight, short-duration thundery showers are forecast in the afternoon on most days. Overall, the rainfall for the second half of January 2025 is expected to be above average over most parts of the island.
3 Lower daily minimum temperatures of around 22 degrees Celsius can be expected in the first few days of the fortnight. Subsequently, daily temperatures are forecast to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days.
4 For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.
REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 15 JANUARY 2025)
5 Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first fortnight of January 2025. During the period, the low-level winds blew mainly from the north or northeast.
6 A strengthening of the high-pressure system over northern continental Asia brought a surge of moderate to strong northeast monsoon winds over the South China Sea on several days of January 2025. The surge brought cool and wet weather over Singapore between 10 and 13 January 2025. The daily total rainfall of 241.8mm recorded at Pulau Tekong on 10 January 2025 was the highest daily total rainfall ever recorded in January, exceeding the previous record of 238.2mm on 30 January 2011.
7 The daily temperature in the first fortnight of January 2025 ranged from 21.6 degrees Celsius to 34.3 degrees Celsius. The highest daily maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius was recorded on 5 January 2025 at Jurong. During the monsoon surge event between 10 and 13 January 2025, there were three days where the highest daily maximum temperature was below 28 degrees Celsius. On 11 January 2025, the highest daily maximum temperature was 25.7 degrees Celsius recorded at East Coast Parkway and the daily minimum temperature at Newton dipped to 21.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest temperature for the first fortnight of January 2025.
8 Well-above average rainfall was received across the island in the first fortnight of January 2025. The highest anomaly of 345 per cent above average was at Kent Ridge. The anomaly was lowest at Tengah at 185 per cent above average.
[1] A monsoon surge refers to a strengthening of winds over the South China Sea, causing extensive rainclouds to form over our surrounding region.
CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS
Long-term Statistics for January (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:
30.6
°C
Average daily minimum temperature:
24.3
°C
Average monthly temperature:
26.8
°C
Average rainfall:
221.6
mm
Average number of rain days:
13
Historical Extremes for January (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:
31.8
°C (2016, 2018)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:
21.6
°C (1933)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
818.6
mm (2006)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:
15.4
mm (1932)
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE
16 Jan 2025
~~ End ~~
For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
Water quality at Pasir Ris Beach has improved and is now safe for primary contact activities. Swimming and other primary contact activities continue to be discouraged at Sembawang Park Beach.
Singapore, 24 January 2025 – Six out of seven recreational beaches have been graded “Good” in the latest beach grading exercise and are suitable for all water activities. This includes Pasir Ris Beach, which was graded “Fair” in Feb 2024. Sembawang Park Beach, continues to be graded “Fair” even though its water quality has improved from last year.
Advisory on swimming and primary contact sports
2 The recreational beaches are graded based on World Health Organization (WHO) recreational water quality guidelines. The grading takes into account the incidences of elevated Enterococcus (EC) bacteria count in the beach water samples [1] which increases the risk of gastrointestinal infection when the water is ingested.
3 With the latest beach grading results, the advisory discouraging swimming and other primary contact activities [2] at Pasir Ris Beach is lifted. The advisory discouraging swimming and other primary contact activities will remain for Sembawang Park Beach. Non-primary contact water activities, such as sailing, kayaking and canoeing can continue as normal at Sembawang Beach.
4 As there could be occasions when the EC level at beaches are elevated, we encourage beachgoers to refer to the weekly Beach Short-term Water Quality Information (BSWI) on the NEA website or the myENV app before engaging in water activities.
Sources of Elevated EC Bacteria
5 Findings suggest that the earlier elevated EC levels at Pasir Ris and Sembawang Beach might have originated from multiple sources, including bin centres, food establishments and construction sites, where improper hygiene practices such as pouring of water containing waste materials into the drains could have impacted the water quality in our waterways.
6 Respective Government agencies have been working with stakeholders to ensure proper housekeeping and waste management measures to minimise EC in our waterways, for example by ensuring the proper discharge of wastewater and washing water into sewers within the premises. Agencies have stepped up inspections at these premises and will take enforcement actions against any errant practices. The next grading of Singapore’s recreational beaches will be in July 2025.
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[1] Based on WHO recreational water quality guidelines, beaches with EC levels greater than 200 cfu/100ml for more than 5 per cent of the samples will be graded “Fair” or poorer.
[2] Primary contact activities refer to activities where a person’s whole body or face and trunk are frequently immersed and it is likely that some water will be swallowed. Primary contact activities include swimming, wakeboarding, windsurfing and water immersion training.
~~ End ~~
For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
ANNEX A
2025 Beach Grading
Beach
Grade
Changi
Good
East Coast Park
Good
Pasir Ris
Good
Punggol
Good
Seletar Island
Good
Sembawang Park
Fair
Sentosa Island
Good
ANNEX B
Beach Advisory Installed at Sembawang Park [3] Beach
[3] Sembawang Park beach stretches from Sembawang Park fishing pier to mouth of Simpang Kiri river.
SAN ANTONIO – A former FBI employee was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to three months of home confinement and five years of probation for one count of wire fraud related to fraudulent use of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court documents, Christopher James Phillips, 41, of Schertz, formed Phillips Global Realty LLC on Dec. 20, 2019 and submitted a PPP application on May 29, 2020, using his FBI-issued credentials to confirm his identity. In his application, Phillips represented that he employed two individuals and had an average monthly payroll of $15,000. Additionally, he submitted an IRS Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) for the fourth quarter of 2019, claiming a payroll of $50,000 over the three-month period. IRS records indicate that Phillips did not file such a form any time between 2019 and 2022, meaning the Form 941 he submitted as part of his PPP loan application was fraudulent and the representations were false.
Phillips also certified that PPP funds would be spent only on authorized expenses, to include payroll, utilities, rent and mortgage interest. On June 2, 2020, he received $37,500 in PPP funds. Six days later, on June 8, Phillips wired $25,000 to a personal trading account and subsequently lost all of it due to trading activities. On June 9, 2020, he made a $5,117 payment toward his personal auto loan. On June 16, 2020, he paid approximately $8,500 toward his home mortgage.
Phillips was indicted Jan. 3, 2024 for one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds. He was arrested Jan. 5, 2024 and released that day on a $30,000 bond. Phillips pleaded guilty to the wire fraud charge Sept. 18, 2024. In addition to his home confinement and probation, Phillips was ordered to pay $39,771 in restitution.
“The United States government will aggressively prosecute criminals, even if those individuals work within our own ranks,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “As a result of his actions, Phillips is now a convicted felon and will spend the next five years under the watchful eye of the United States Probation Department. This sentencing should send a message to all government personnel who would consider using their position for personal gain. This office will carry out its duty and seek to hold you accountable for betraying the invaluable trust of the American people.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons prosecuted the case.
More than a kilo of cocaine found in apartment of previously convicted cocaine trafficker
BOSTON – A Bridgewater man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing and distributing cocaine.
Kevin Mercado, 38, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 78 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2024, Mercado pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In 2019, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization selling cocaine and fentanyl in the southeastern part of Massachusetts, including Brockton. From March 2020 through November 2023, 11 controlled purchases of drugs were made from Mercado. In November 2023, a search was conducted at Mercado’s apartment in Bridgewater where nearly a kilogram and a half of cocaine and cocaine base, three digital scales, a money counter and $16,086 in drug proceeds were found. An additional search of Mercado’s SnapChat account showed communications evincing regular access to large quantities of cocaine and willingness to cook cocaine into crack cocaine. In 2010, Mercado was sentenced to 48-months in federal prison after being convicted of two counts of distribution of cocaine base.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts State Police and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
CONCORD – A man from Puerto Rico, formerly living in Manchester, pleaded guilty today in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Lewistone Baez Miranda, age 50, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, cocaine. Baez Miranda is the third of six defendants charged in this conspiracy to plead guilty. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2025. The defendant was indicted on December 20, 2023.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant was the leader a drug trafficking organization that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire. The defendant’s son, based in Puerto Rico, used fictitious information to send packages of cocaine through the United States Postal Service to Manchester at the direction of the defendant. The cocaine was often packaged in 500-gram or 1,000-gram bundles and hidden inside children’s games. The defendant employed co-conspirators to retrieve the packages of cocaine for him in Manchester. The defendant also sent suspected drug proceeds to his son in Puerto Rico, in one instance sending him a parcel containing $11,000. Between September 2020 and December 2021, the defendant’s drug trafficking organization shipped over 5.6 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester for redistribution.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Mark Cuban Foundation is proud to announce a pioneering museum pilot program in partnership with The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. The program will bring the highly acclaimed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp to Albuquerque area high school students. This collaboration emphasizes the Foundation’s mission to reach students in underserved and previously unconnected regions, providing them with opportunities to engage with innovative technology.
The program aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications to future careers. Students can select from six tracks: healthcare, arts and entertainment, business and entrepreneurship, computer science, sports science, or education and career readiness. Driven by the belief that fostering interest in AI at a young age is crucial for preparing the next generation for their future, the AI Bootcamps are introductory and accessible to students in 9-12 grade with an interest in technology. Students do not need any familiarity with computer science or programming to attend.
This free AI Bootcamp is hosted for underserved high school students with a transparent focus on recruiting girls, students of color, first generation college students, and those from low to moderate income households. The AI Bootcamp Program provides students with lunch and a snack, transportation assistance, and technology equipment during bootcamp.
“As AI continues to become an undeniable force in all of our lives, it’s crucial that we open the door to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to explore it,” said Mark Cuban, founder. “While technology expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for schools or jobs in the future. Thanks to our work with The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, the bootcamp will offer an avenue to explore this fascinating field of technology to any student, no matter their means.”
This year’s bootcamp, taking place in Albuquerque March 17-19, is hosted and staffed by The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, the only congressionally chartered museum dedicated to the history and science of nuclear technology.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Mark Cuban Foundation to bring this innovative AI Bootcamp to Albuquerque high school students,” said Gabriel Nemiroff, Director of Education at The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. “This program is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore the exciting world of artificial intelligence and its potential applications in their future careers. We believe that AI has the power to revolutionize many industries, and we want to ensure that all students have the chance to learn about this important technology.”
This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program’s media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.
About Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp Initiative The Mark Cuban Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit led by entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban. The AI Bootcamps Program at MCF seeks to inspire young people with emerging technology so that they can create more equitable futures for themselves and their communities. Over 3 consecutive Saturdays underserved 9th – 12th grade students learn what AI is and isn’t, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, the ethical implications of AI systems, and much more. Learn more about the no-cost AI Bootcamp program at markcubanai.org.
About The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History was established in 1969 as an intriguing place to learn the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Visitors can explore how nuclear science continues to influence our world. Through permanent and changing exhibits and displays, the museum strives to present the diverse applications of nuclear science in the past, present, and future, along with the stories of the field’s pioneers. The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is accredited through the American Alliance of Museums.
MIAMI, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MCQ Markets, an emerging leader in the automotive alternative asset investment space, is thrilled to announce its new strategic endeavor pioneering the curation of ultra-rare luxury vehicles and collectibles via tokenization and data authentication on the Solana Blockchain.
MCQ provides individuals the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolios with iconic automobiles through their SEC-qualified offerings – breaking down barriers traditionally associated with luxury car ownership.
MCQ Markets is creating a series of NFTs for each car to be sold on the MCQ platform, ensuring the data authenticity of all automobiles and collectibles. Each vehicle will be linked to a unique NFT, securely storing vital information such as VIN, mileage, acquisition date, and more. This secure and immutable digital ledger will ensure all records are tamper-resistant and fully transparent.
Backed by the Solana Foundation, which drives the adoption of the Solana blockchain, this integration ensures the seamless tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) like these collector cars, setting a new standard for transparency and innovation in Web3. By leveraging scalability and efficiency offered on the Solana blockchain, MCQ Markets is laying the foundation for the future of data secure authentication in the collector car market, ensuring verified historical records and market valuations.
CEO of MCQ Markets, Curt Hopkins, shared, “This integration will bring the technical prowess and security of the blockchain to the automotive world, ensuring authenticity, provenance, and transparency for our investors. This partnership will enable MCQ Markets to explore new frontiers in Web3 and be at the forefront of creating the future automotive collecting.”
MCQ Markets has received an investment from SOL Global Investments Corp. as part of their 2025 Solana ecosystem investment strategy. Curt continued, “This investment into MCQ Markets from SOL Global highlights the innovative potential of Solana’s blockchain technology to revolutionize traditional and alternative asset classes, providing a new level of authenticity and provenance to all investments.”
About MCQ Markets MCQ Markets is redefining luxury asset ownership by making exotic automobiles attainable through its innovative fractional ownership model. The platform serves both passionate enthusiasts and seasoned investors, democratizing luxury ownership and allowing more individuals to invest in assets that were previously out of reach. For more information, please visit: https://on.mcqmarkets.com/pr.
About Solana Foundation The Solana Foundation is dedicated to the adoption and growth of the Solana blockchain, one of the world’s fastest and most scalable decentralized networks. By enabling secure, low-cost, and energy-efficient transactions, Solana powers the next generation of blockchain-based innovations across finance, gaming, and real-world asset tokenization. For more information, visit: https://solana.org/.
Boca Raton, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and co-chairs of The Fund to End Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate, Elliott Broidy and Dr. Thomas Kaplan announced the launch of a major fundraising campaign to help fund the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88.
Spearheaded by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), ARCHER aims to transform the former residence of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss in Oświęcim, Poland, from a center of hate to a center against hate in all forms. In addition to the residence, famed architect Daniel Libeskind has designed an extraordinary new building on the grounds of House 88 to house the organization’s research, education, and advocacy activities.
“This historic initiative represents a crucial step in our fight against extremism,” said Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project. “ARCHER at House 88 will serve as a vital hub for research, education, and—crucially—action in countering hate, antisemitism, and extremism globally.”
“The lessons of history demand that we do more than just remember—we must act,” said Dr. Thomas Kaplan. “ARCHER at House 88 is not just about preserving history; it is about changing the future. By transforming this house—once a symbol of unimaginable evil—into a center dedicated to combating extremism and hate, we are sending a powerful message. But we cannot do this alone.”
Elliott Broidy added, “This is a call to action—our fundraising efforts are critical to ensuring that this initiative succeeds in its mission to create a world free from extremism. I am thrilled that leaders and philanthropists Aryeh Bourkoff, Senator Norm Coleman, Eric Herschmann, Kenneth B. Mehlman, George Schaeffer, Lenny Sands, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, and Dr. Herbert Wertheim have all joined the Board of the Fund.” (Board In Formation)
Senator Norm Coleman said, “I am honored to stand in support of ARCHER at House 88 and its mission to confront antisemitism and extremism head-on. Converting the former Auschwitz Commandant’s residence into a global center for education and advocacy sends a resounding message: antisemitism, extremism, and hate will never prevail, and we are committed to building a future defined by tolerance and understanding.”
Businessman Kenneth B. Mehlman said, “Never Again must be more than a slogan. It requires active engagement, education, and vigilance. ARCHER at House 88 will honor Auschwitz’s victims by educating, engaging, and warning future generations about the evils of genocidal hatred.”
The ARCHER initiative is now actively seeking additional support to expand its programs, including:
A fellowship program for leading scholars focused on extremism research
Educational programs for policymakers, educators, and the public
Policy advocacy implementing actionable strategies to combat hate
About Elliott Broidy Elliott Broidy is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a career spanning four decades. As Chairman and CEO of Broidy Capital Holdings, he has invested in over 160 companies across multiple industries. Since 9/11, his investments have focused on companies in the public safety and national security sectors. Through his philanthropic efforts, he has supported numerous organizations dedicated to countering hate and extremism, including The Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and StandWithUs.
About Dr. Thomas Kaplan Dr. Thomas Kaplan is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and advocate for global education, cultural preservation, and the fight against extremism. As the former President and Chairman of New York’s 92nd Street Y, a world-renowned Jewish community and cultural center in New York, Dr. Kaplan has long supported initiatives that promote Jewish history and cultural awareness. He is also the founder of the Recanati-Kaplan Intelligence Fellows Program at Harvard’s Belfer Center and co-creator of a similar program at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, furthering advancements in intelligence and geopolitical strategy. Through his philanthropic work, Dr. Kaplan is committed to fostering education, historical preservation, and impactful global change.
About ARCHER at House 88 ARCHER at House 88 is a global research and education center dedicated to combating extremism, antisemitism, and hate. Established by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and UNESCO, the center serves as a hub for scholarly research, policy development, and public education.
About the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit, non-partisan policy organization formed in 2014 to combat extremism by pressuring financial and material support networks; combating online recruitment and communications; and promoting progressive laws, policies, and, regulations.
Anonymous surveys protect participants from becoming targets of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. However, researchers need to be careful about the potential for bad actors to spoil survey data. (Shutterstock)
Unfortunately, researchers who aim to explore emerging issues impacting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and develop interventions to support them are facing a new problem: what if our research participants aren’t actually real?
Anonymous online surveys are a great way for marginalized groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to contribute to research without significant time commitments. Anonymous surveys also protect participants from becoming targets of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. However, researchers need to be careful about the potential of disingenuous participants to spoil survey data.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, this problem is magnified. And while AI detectors exist, they are not always accurate and cannot confront the issue of human respondents who are simply lying in their survey responses.
This shared concern about participant authenticity and the potential infiltration of dishonest respondents — whether AI or not — has led us to identify issues that could have a negative impact on online research.
Anonymous online surveys are a great way for marginalized groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to contribute to research; however, ineligible participants and AI bots can undermine their accuracy. (Shutterstock)
The challanges we encountered
Location:
Our most recent survey focused on Two Spirit, trans and non-binary professionals working at 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in Canada. The narrow participant criteria made it easy to check IP addresses and spot ones that did not qualify. We could also identify and block IP addresses that submitted multiple responses.
When reviewing the data, we found that many of the suspicious responses were linked to one IP address located in China. We also received a high volume of responses claiming to come from Prince Edward Island. This was suspect, not only because of contradictory IP addresses, but because the number of responses seemed disproportionately high for the population of the smallest Canadian province.
Time:
Our survey received 1,491 responses within three days, which was suspicious given the narrow eligibility criteria. Many responses were completed too quickly for a survey that included written responses. We also noticed that there were waves of responses, and those respondents completed the survey in roughly the same amount of time.
Incentives:
It is hard to know exactly why people complete surveys for which they are ineligible. Some people may may do it for the compensation on offer. Others many want to spoil the data. We noticed that false responses increased when some form of compensation was offered, whether it was cash or gift cards.
Email addresses:
Another pattern we noticed was the use of generic Outlook or Yahoo email addresses, which followed the formula of first name-last name-numbers. While many people might use this same format, this is also an easy and quick way to create email addresses en masse.
Contradictions:
When looking at the data, we found that many responses did not make sense for our target demographic group. There were a lot of “prefer not to answer” responses to prompts about pronouns, gender identity and sexual orientation.
Many respondents also selected “yes” when asked if they were First Nations, Inuit or Métis, but then wrote “white” when asked about their race or ethnicity. Identities can be complex, and what appears to be a contradiction may in fact be an intersection that is poorly represented through demographic questionnaires. Flagging potentially fake responses based on how we assume respondents will identify themselves is a bad idea for research about 2SLGBTQIA+ people who inhabit non-normative gender and sexual identities.
Some of these responses were also flagged because of other issues, including IP address and completion rate. However, there were others that were less suspicious, leaving us unsure about their validity.
These responses may have been created by AI bots or by people using AI to generate responses and manually enter them. It could have been someone actively trying to misrepresent themselves or someone who earnestly wants to contribute but does not feel confident in their English-language skills or writing ability. For this reason, it is important to consider multiple factors when reviewing survey responses to determine whether data is usable.
AI presents new opportunities and challenges for online research. (Shutterstock)
Moving forward
Technology like AI chatbots presents new opportunities and new challenges for online research that require specific interventions. The concerns we’ve outlined are potential red flags that can help alert researchers to suspicious data.
Some solutions we found for these issues include IP tracking, requiring a password to access the survey, asking the same question twice to verify that the responses match, and having “attention check” or “trap” questions where respondents are asked to select a specific response.
Researchers can also flag “speeder” respondents who take less than one-third of the median response time, and average respondents who select the same responses across the survey, like always choosing the first option. Some researchers may already be aware of these and other solutions, and we encourage anyone doing online research to be prepared to address dishonest participants and protect the integrity of their data.
Research in this area is vital. We encourage other researchers to share their experiences and solutions to these problems to raise awareness.
Christopher Dietzel receives funding from Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) and is the community research advisor of the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).
Evan Vipond is a research officer at the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).
Hannah Maitland is the co-founder and administrative coordinator of the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN).
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Hamish van der Ven, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources, University of British Columbia
The growing use of artificial intelligence has led to larger and more powerful data centres, with increased demands on the environment.(Shutterstock)
Artificial intelligence technologies, like chatbots, are attracting growing scrutiny for their voracious energy demands. However, energy consumption is only one part of their broader environmental impact.
Late last year, ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot run by OpenAI, celebrated its second birthday. In its brief existence, the platform has amassed over 300 million weekly users who send roughly one billion messages to the chatbot per day.
Elsewhere in tech, other companies marked less savoury milestones. Alphabet — the parent company of Google — recently announced that its GHG emissions are up 48 per cent since 2019. At roughly the same time, Microsoft announced that its emissions are up 29 per cent since 2020.
Both companies cite emissions associated with the need for more data centres to support AI workloads as a key factor in surging GHG emissions. AI is notoriously thirsty for energy — according to one researcher, one query to ChatGPT uses approximately as much electricity as one light bulb for 20 minutes.
The burgeoning AI industry needs so much electricity that plans to decommission several coal plants have been delayed. By some estimates, the collective demand of AI and other digital technologies will constitute 20 per cent of global electricity use by 2030.
Insidious effects
The energy use of AI is important, but it does not tell the whole story of AI’s environmental impacts. The social and political mediums through which AI affects the planet are far more insidious and, arguably, more consequential for the future of humanity.
In the Business, Sustainability and Technology Lab at the University of British Columbia, we specialize in evaluating the social and political ways in which digital technologies affect the environment.
In our recently published paper, “Does artificial intelligence bias perceptions of environmental challenges?,” my students and I argue that AI changes how humans perceive environmental challenges in ways that obscure the accountability of powerful entities, ignore marginalized communities and promote cautious and incremental solutions that are drastically out of sync with the timeline required to avert environmental crises.
We asked four chatbots the same series of questions about the issues, causes, consequences and solutions to nine environmental challenges. We found evidence of systematic biases in their responses. Most notably, chatbots avoid mentioning radical solutions to environmental challenges. They are far more likely to propose combinations of soft economic, social or political changes, like greater deployment of sustainable technologies and broader public awareness and education.
Chatbots by OpenAI and Anthropic exhibited a reluctance to discuss the broader social, cultural and economic issues that are entangled in environmental challenges. For example, the term “environmental justice” is absent from nearly all chatbot responses. Chatbots also avoided references to dismantling colonialism or rethinking infinite economic growth as solutions to these challenges.
Chatbots may be programmed to avoid raising the broader social, cultural and economic issues that are entangled in environmental challenges. (Shutterstock)
AI bias
Biases also exist in who chatbots see as responsible or vulnerable to environmental challenges. The chatbots we studied were far more likely to blame governments for environmental challenges than businesses or financial organizations. Similarly, while the vulnerability of Indigenous groups to climate change and biodiversity loss was mentioned frequently, the susceptibility of Black people and women to these same challenges received scant attention.
All of this is particularly worrisome given the increasingly widespread use of AI chatbots by educators, students, policymakers and business leaders to understand and respond to environmental challenges. Chatbots present information in an oracular way, usually as a single text box written in an authoritative manner and understood as a synthesis of all digitalized knowledge.
If AI users treat this text uncritically, they risk arriving at conclusions that propagate biased conceptions of environmental challenges and reinforce ineffective efforts to avert ecological crises.
In the near future, the problem of bias in AI looks to get even worse, as OpenAI and other AI companies consider incorporating advertising to generate the revenue needed to train newer and more complex large language models.
While it remains unclear what advertising will look like when integrated into ChatGPT, it is not difficult to see a world in which a description of climate change and its attendant solutions will be brought to you by the good folks at ExxonMobil or Shell.
Hamish van der Ven receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
This photo of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 Polycam images collected on Dec. 2, 2024, by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.NASA
A bright fireball streaked across the sky above mountains, glaciers and spruce forest near the town of Revelstoke in British Columbia, Canada, on the evening of March 31, 1965. Fragments of this meteorite, discovered by beaver trappers, fell over a lake. A layer of ice saved them from the depths and allowed scientists a peek into the birth of the solar system.
Nearly 60 years later, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned from space with a sample of an asteroid named Bennu, similar to the one that rained rocks over Revelstoke. Our research team has published a chemical analysis of those samples, providing insight into how some of the ingredients for life may have first arrived on Earth.
Born in the years bracketing the Revelstoke meteorite’s fall, the two of us have spent our careers in the meteorite collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Natural History Museum in London. We’ve dreamed of studying samples from a Revelstoke-like asteroid collected by a spacecraft.
Then, nearly two decades ago, we began turning those dreams into reality. We joined NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission team, which aimed to send a spacecraft to collect and return an asteroid sample to Earth. After those samples arrived on Sept. 24, 2023, we got to dive into a tale of rock, ice and water that hints at how life could have formed on Earth.
To learn about an asteroid – a rocky or metallic object in orbit around the Sun – we started with a study of meteorites.
Asteroids like Bennu are rocky or metallic objects in orbit around the Sun. Meteorites are the pieces of asteroids and other natural extraterrestrial objects that survive the fiery plunge to the Earth’s surface.
We really wanted to study an asteroid similar to a set of meteorites called chondrites, whose components formed in a cloud of gas and dust at the dawn of the solar system billions of years ago.
The Revelstoke meteorite is in a group called CI chondrites. Laboratory-measured compositions of CI chondrites are essentially identical, minus hydrogen and helium, to the composition of elements carried by convection from the interior of the Sun and measured in the outermost layer of the Sun. Since their components formed billions of years ago, they’re like chemically unchanged time capsules for the early solar system.
So, geologists use the chemical compositions of CI chondrites as the ultimate reference standard for geochemistry. They can compare the compositions of everything from other chondrites to Earth rocks. Any differences from the CI chondrite composition would have happened through the same processes that formed asteroids and planets.
CI chondrites are rich in clay and formed when ice melted in an ancient asteroid, altering the rock. They are also rich in prebiotic organic molecules. Some of these types of molecules are the building blocks for life.
This combination of rock, water and organics is one reason OSIRIS-REx chose to sample the organic-rich asteroid Bennu, where water and organic compounds essential to the origin of life could be found.
Evaporites − the legacy of an ancient brine
Ever since the Bennu samples returned to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, we and our colleagues on four continents have spent hundreds of hours studying them.
The instruments on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made observations of reflected light that revealed the most abundant minerals and organics when it was near asteroid Bennu. Our analyses in the laboratory found that the compositions of these samples lined up with those observations.
The samples are mostly water-rich clay, with sulfide, carbonate and iron oxide minerals. These are the same minerals found in CI chondrites like Revelstoke. The discovery of rare minerals within the Bennu samples, however, surprised both of us. Despite our decades of experience studying meteorites, we have never seen many of these minerals.
We found minerals dominated by sodium, including carbonates, sulfates, chlorides and fluorides, as well as potassium chloride and magnesium phosphate. These minerals don’t form just when water and rock react. They form when water evaporates.
Bennu’s rocks formed 4.5 billion years ago on a larger parent asteroid. That asteroid was wet and muddy. Under the surface, pockets of water perhaps only a few feet across were evaporating, leaving the evaporite minerals we found in the sample. That same evaporation process also formed the ancient lake beds we’ve seen these minerals in on Earth.
Bennu’s parent asteroid likely broke apart 1 to 2 billion years ago, and some of the fragments came together to form the rubble pile we know as Bennu.
These minerals are also found on icy bodies in the outer solar system. Bright deposits on the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt, contain sodium carbonate. The Cassini mission measured the same mineral in plumes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
We also learned that these minerals, formed when water evaporates, disappear when exposed to water once again – even with the tiny amount of water found in air. After studying some of the Bennu samples and their minerals, researchers stored the samples in air. That’s what we do with meteorites.
Unfortunately, we lost these minerals as moisture in the air on Earth caused them to dissolve. But that explains why we can’t find these minerals in meteorites that have been on Earth for decades to centuries.
Until scientists were able to conduct a controlled sample return with a spacecraft and carefully curate and store the samples in nitrogen, we had never seen this set of minerals in a meteorite.
An unexpected discovery
Before returning the samples, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spent over two years making observations around Bennu. From that two years of work, researchers learned that the surface of the asteroid is covered in rocky boulders.
We could see that the asteroid is rich in carbon and water-bearing clays, and we saw veins of white carbonate a few feet long deposited by ancient liquid water. But what we couldn’t see from these observations were the rarer minerals.
We used an array of techniques to go through the returned sample one tiny grain at a time. These included CT scanning, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, each of which allowed us to look at the rock at a scale not possible on the asteroid.
Cooking up the ingredients for life
From the salts we identified, we could infer the composition of the briny water from which they formed and see how it changed over time, becoming more sodium-rich.
This briny water would have been an ideal place for new chemical reactions to take place and for organic molecules to form.
While our team characterized salts, our organic chemist colleagues were busy identifying the carbon-based molecules present in Bennu. They found unexpectedly high levels of ammonia, an essential building block of the amino acids that form proteins in living matter. They also found all five of the nucleobases that make up part of DNA and RNA.
Based on these results, we’d venture to guess that these briny pods of fluid would have been the perfect environments for increasingly complicated organic molecules to form, such as the kinds that make up life on Earth.
When asteroids like Bennu hit the young Earth, they could have provided a complete package of complex molecules and the ingredients essential to life, such as water, phosphate and ammonia. Together, these components could have seeded Earth’s initially barren landscape to produce a habitable world.
Without this early bombardment, perhaps when the pieces of the Revelstoke meteorite landed several billion years later, these fragments from outer space would not have arrived into a landscape punctuated with glaciers and trees.
Timothy J McCoy receives funding from NASA.
Sara Russell receives funding from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK Statement at Madagascar’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr Vice President,
The United Kingdom thanks Madagascar for setting out its efforts to protect human rights. We urge the government to implement the new code of work, and to provide clarification that the work code also covers child labour.
We urge the government to ensure that all children have access to free primary and secondary education and to strengthen children’s rights and fair living conditions.
We recommend:
Improve the quality and accessibility of services in health centres by applying free primary care, eradicating discrimination against the poor, lowering the price of medicine, and increasing the number of hospitals, health centres and health staff working in childcare.
Implement a registration and identification process of children who are effectively homeless and to strengthen existing laws to protect them from further exploitation.
Strengthen women’s economic empowerment and strengthen support for victims of sexual abuse.
Musician and former lead singer of The Clash, Joe Strummer, has been honoured with a legacy stone to mark his musical career near to where he once lived in North Paddington.
The musician and his band’s music were an ever-present feature on the music scene in the late 70s and early 80s with The Clash alongside The Sex Pistols, the Jam and the Specials, producing the soundtrack of the era.
The legacy stone was installed as part of Westminster City Council’s project to revitalise the market and Market Hill Area which had been funded by the GLA. The wider North Paddington Programme and redevelopment has been funded by the council in close collaboration with residents, local businesses and organisations.
The plaque is situated in the newly refurbished Maida Hill Market on the corner of Walterton Road, the location where Joe Strummer squatted during the 1970s and his address of 101 Walterton Road inspired the name for the band the 101ers.
The stone is inscribed with lyrics sung by Strummer in the song Clampdown from The Clash’s 1979 album London Calling. It reads: “the future is unwritten”, “No man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown”. A nod to the band’s rebellious political awareness and passion for raising social issues and injustices of the time.
At the stone unveiling, Cllr Ryan Jude Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Climate Action and Ecology said:
As a city we there is history on every street corner. Music is an intrinsic part of the Westminster’s DNA and it’s wonderful to celebrate Joe Strummer’s musical journey which began in Maida Hill and North Paddington.
We’re so proud to have played a part in unveiling this legacy stone to celebrate the music and work of Joe Strummer. I hope in doing so this inspires the next generation of young residents to show you can have a career in the arts and turn their passion into a profession.”
Dylan White, music promoter and fan of The Clash said:
It’s important to remember how an artist starts their career as often this is forgotten and just the success is remembered. In this case in the Joe, the 101’ers evolved from their squat at 101 Walterton Road and were a big part of the local area at that time playing in most of the nearby pubs.”
The Clash and punk were a long way in the future at this point, so we need to remember and celebrate his time in this part of London as he cut his teeth and learnt his stage craft.”
The Joe Strummer Fund is a joint undertaking between the Joe Strummer Estate and Single Homeless Project to support artists and creatives who have experienced of homelessness in creating new and original music and media.
Portobello Radio were instrumental in organising the event and provided musical entertainment throughout the day.
We are currently looking for a dynamic, sensitive and funded individual or organisation who could give a new and sympathetic lease of life to one of the city’s oldest buildings – the Merchant’s House.
The property, which dates back to the 16th Century, was once a museum but has been closed for almost a decade.
Now the Council is hoping to hear from companies, organisations or individuals who are keen to see this incredible Grade II* building come alive once more.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member responsible for the city’s assets said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but we need to do something. We have invested millions in the Box and the Elizabethan House, but we currently have no use for this building and no prospect of funding to restore this house.
“We very much hope some thinkers and doers with the finances and the wherewithal to take on a project like this will come forward.
“The house has been closed for almost a decade and is slowly degrading over time. We hope this appeal will generate interest and open up new possibilities for this building.”
Ideas could include a heritage attraction, a tea shop with an historic slant, offices for a business – although the preference would be to enable some form of public access.
While it is not known exactly when the house was built, its first recorded owner was a privateer named William Parker, a friend of Sir Francis Drake. Like Drake he combined a career as a merchant with privateering and civic government. He also served as Mayor of Plymouth from 1601 to 1602.
He served under Drake in 1588 in the fight against the Spanish Armada and carried out raids against the Spanish in the Caribbean. In 1601 he captured a pair of treasure ships laden with 10,000 gold ducats and on his return to Plymouth, was elected Mayor and used the profits from his ventures to remodel an older house on this site into a fashionable timber-framed house.
Parker helped promote the Plymouth Company to colonise North America and took an active interest in the Virginia Colony. He died in 1618 on a voyage to the East Indies. His heirs lived here before it was passed to Abraham Rowe, another successful merchant and in 1651 the house was purchased by Justinian Beard, Mayor of Plymouth on two occasions.
It was occupied by the Beele family until 1707, then by the Martyn family until 1807. In 1807 the building was extended to the rear (towards Finewell Street) and the front used as a shop. In the 1960s it was a taxi office, then restored by the Council and turned into a museum of local heritage, focussing on life in Plymouth over time. Rooms included recreating the Blitz experience and a replica Victorian schoolroom.
The Council is keen to explore all options including a sale or a long commercially viable lease. Interested parties should provide the following when submitting an offer:
Purchase price/rental offer
Purchaser details
Conditions
Proposed use/development plans
Finance/evidence of funding
Track record in restoration of historic buildings
Timescales
Proposed uses sensitive to the property’s historical significance will be given higher consideration. Interested parties should email Laura Hathaway from the Council’s Land and Property Team at [email protected]
New management plans have been published for Jersey’s four Ramsar sites.
A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The plans set out strategic aims and management objectives of those sites over the next five years, 2025-2029.
Jersey’s Ramsar sites include:
South-east coast of Jersey
Les Écréhous and Les Dirouilles
Les Minquiers
Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters)
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, said: “The plans demonstrate our commitment to protecting Jersey’s unique wetland environments. Ramsar sites are internationally recognised for their ecological, cultural, and economic significance, and these new management plans outline clear objectives for the sustainable management, monitoring, and protection of these valuable areas.
“I would like to extend a special thanks to the Jersey Ramsar Advisory Group for their contribution to the development of these plans.”
The Government of Jersey remains committed to keeping Islanders informed about the ongoing Water Quality and Safety Programme and recent updates on PFAS.
Minutes of the Last Public Meeting
The minutes from the most recent public meeting have now been uploaded to our website. This meeting included a presentation on Report Two – Assessment of Evidence of PFASon Health and provided updates on the formation of the Water Quality and Safety Programme. Islanders can access the minutes here.
Question and Answer Document
Following discussions at the meeting and correspondence received, we have compiled a detailed Question and Answer document addressing key queries. This document is now available here.
Next public meeting
We are pleased to confirm that the next public meeting:
When: Tuesday 11 February 2025
Where: Les Ormes at 6 PM.
The session will focus on the public scoping of Report Four – PFAS in the Environment, offering an opportunity for Islanders to contribute to shaping the final scope of the report.
We encourage all interested parties to attend and participate.
Apprenticeship Week to highlight ideal pathway to full time employment
29 January 2025
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Labour Market Partnership are hosting a number of events for prospective apprentices and employers to mark Apprenticeship Week 2025.
The Northern Ireland wide initiative, from Monday February 3rd to Friday February 5th 2025, seeks to celebrate and showcase the value of apprenticeships for individuals, businesses, communities and the wider economy.
The events highlight the apprenticeship route as an alternative to full time education and will allow prospective employers and candidates to connect and learn more about the options available.
Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Manager, Nicky Gilleece, explained more about the format of the combination of training and employment.
“Apprenticeships take between two and four years to complete and offer paid employment for participants who can earn as they learn while working alongside experienced staff and gaining experience and qualifications specific to their chosen industry,” she explained.
“The Derry Strabane LMP work proactively with the North West Regional College, the Careers Service and local private training providers to actively promote this as a viable pathway and to create jobs for young people.
“We are organising a number of events this week for both employers and students interested in pursuing this route and I would encourage them to access the programme now and get involved.”
The programme starts on Wednesday February 5th with an Employer Support Lunchtime Briefing for employers based in the Waterside area at the BEAM Centre in Maydown.
On Thursday February 6th, the LMP will host an Employer Apprenticeship Brunch at 11am in the Guildhall’s Main Hall followed by an Apprenticeship and Careers Fair from 1pm-4pm where prospective apprentices, parents, guardians and school careers staff can meet with employers and education providers to learn more about the opportunities available in the Council area. On Friday February 7th employers can attend a Networking Business Breakfast from 8.30am to 12.30pm at Strabane Golf Club which will be followed by an Apprenticeship Lunch Expo from 12.30pm to 2.30pm where anyone considering an apprenticeship can get more information.
‘First of its kind’, Maybury Primary School has this week welcomed its first pupils – 25 excited P1 learners – into the brand-new school building.
The group of children, who have been based at neighbouring East Craigs Primary School since August 2024 are the first intake at the new school which will offer capacity for up to three streams, including 630 primary pupils and 128 nursery pupils. The next group of children will join the new school in August 2025. The school’s catchment area includes the new housing developments in Cammo and West Craigs.
Maybury Primary School is built to the Passivhaus standard, a highly energy-efficient construction method that regulates air temperature in classrooms, creating a more comfortable learning environment. This approach supports The City of Edinburgh Council’s 2030 net-zero target by significantly reducing the building’s energy consumption.
The new primary school is part of the ‘Maybury Community Hub’ and is the first school in Edinburgh to share a campus with a medical practice. The hub will maximise the use of its buildings, allowing local residents to access services close to where they live in line with the ’20 minute neighbourhood’ strategy.
Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener said:
It is great to see that the new Maybury Primary School has welcomed its first group of learners into the building. The head teacher and her team have worked hard to ensure that the transition from East Craigs Primary School into the new school is smooth for the P1 children and I know that they are all excited to get settled into their new school environment.
The new building has been constructed to be fit for the future and the ‘hub’ model means that the building can be used by the whole community, which is fantastic. The construction of Maybury Primary School is part of a broader initiative to meet the needs of new families who have moved into the area, alongside working to achieve the Council’s ambition to meet future demands and support community growth.
Liverpool has turned its famous musical talent to AI for a world premiere influenced by….air pollution!
Liverpool City Council, the University of Liverpool and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra have combined to create a piece of AI-written music to promote clean air policies in cities.
Dr Jonny Higham from the University of Liverpool, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, has led the development of one of the UK’s largest city-wide air quality monitoring networks.
This pioneering work has generated a unique dataset, transformed into a musical composition using cutting-edge AI technology.
In a celebration of innovation and creativity, the Liverpool Philharmonic String Quartet has brought this data to life in an incredible performance, merging science and art in a truly unique way.
The strong collaborations developed were showcased for Clean Air Night in a live performance of the piece by students from the University of Liverpool’s Music Department at the waterfront, where the buildings were lit up in blue to mark the occasion.
Across the city region, air quality varies significantly throughout the year, with multiple breaches of the stringent 5 µg/m³ daily average recommended by the WHO, as is common in large urban areas. The musical composition is crafted to reflect this.
The instruments come together harmoniously in some sections and transition to atonality to symbolise periods of increased pollution. The piece contains 365 notes, each representing a single day of 2024, capturing the region’s air quality journey over the year.
The strong collaboration across the city was showcased in the Clean Air Night celebration, creating a powerful conversation piece that highlights Liverpool’s united efforts to lead the way in air quality research.
The City of Liverpool is positioning itself as a leader in urban environmental action.
Liverpool City Council is committed to creating a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable city through a range of initiatives.
This includes implementing 65 School Streets to reduce traffic near schools, supported by camera enforcement, and transitioning the Council’s vehicle fleet from diesel to electric, boosting both air quality and progress toward net-zero emissions.
A comprehensive Clean Air Plan is also underway, outlining clear actions to reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide levels.
Furthermore, the Council’s Active Travel Plan will enhance walking and cycling infrastructure across the city, with new routes, improved wayfinding, and additional bike parking, ensuring residents benefit from safer and more sustainable travel options.
And residents across Liverpool will benefit from the Council’s Active Travel plan, which will support the introduction of more walking and cycling routes, wayfinding and an increase of parking for bikes.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The creation of music from air quality data is a really creative way of highlighting where we are in our plans to improve air quality throughout Liverpool.
“The impact on residents’ health, particularly children, is important to remember. That’s why I’m proud of the work we are already doing as a council to reduce the pollutants in our atmosphere. These are projects that will benefit everyone in the city and ensure we have a city that is healthy and thriving.”
Prof Ian Sinha, Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician at Alder Hey Hospital, said: “Air quality is the factor which affects children the most. In fact, the poorest children the hardest hit. So they will suffer the effects of the pollution that they breathe in as children – potentially for the rest of their life.”
Dr Jonny Higham, from the University of Liverpool, said: “For the last five or six years I’ve been working to build an air quality network in collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
“Across the whole of the city so we’ve now got 55 air quality sensors and we analyse the air quality across the whole of the city.
“Clean Air Night is to get us thinking a little bit about what we can do to reduce our pollution. Music that we’ve created from our data by converting it using artificial intelligence has been performed live and also we’ve had the Philharmonic string quartet perform it too.
“It’s been brilliant project helping to communicate the importance of air quality.”
