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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Humanitarian Institute teacher Natalia Kirillovna Timofeeva has passed away

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Relatives, friends, colleagues and students mourn the death of one of the oldest teachers Humanitarian Institute Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Natalia Kirillovna Timofeeva (09.20.1944 – 05.17.2025).

    A student of the famous Etruscan scholar A.I. Nemirovsky, she graduated from the history department of the humanities faculty of NSU in 1968, from 1974 she worked in the department of general history, and from 2008 – in the department of ancient literatures and literary source studies.

    Colleagues and students remember Natalia Kirillovna as an extremely erudite specialist, a very modest and kind person, and a wonderful lecturer who knew how to ignite and inspire her listeners. She was at the origins of the specialization in Italian language and culture, which was carried out at NSU for many years.

    Natalia Kirillovna did a lot to popularize scientific knowledge in the form of special courses and open lectures, taught classes at the Orthodox Gymnasium in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Historians, philologists and journalists attended her courses in Italian and Latin, history and literature, culture and art of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and Byzantium, the European Renaissance.

    The memory of all who knew Natalya Kirillovna will forever remain the charm of her deep mind and the human warmth that she radiated.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Charting Our Galaxy’s Extreme Center

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Earth – our tiny blue dot in the galaxy – is approximately 26,000 light years away from a fascinating and active region of the Milky Way called the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). This region holds clues about how stars are born, how energy moves through our galaxy, and maybe even some details about dark matter. 

    However, analyzing this area is challenging, because we do not have a clear top-down view of the Milky Way. UConn’s Milky Way Laboratory, headed by the Department of Physics Associate Professor Cara Battersby, present their comprehensive analysis and 3-dimensional top-down model of the CMZ in a series of four papers in the Astrophysical Journal.  

    The CMZ is a region of extremes and complexity, but it is also the only CMZ we can study in detail.

    “We like to call the CMZ the way station of the galaxy: between gas that’s flowing in from the disc of the galaxy along dust lanes into the CMZ,” Battersby says. “That gas either remains in the CMZ and orbits around the center of the galaxy, where it sometimes forms stars, or it can travel onwards to the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy.”  

    One question Battersby is interested in learning more about is when the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, called Sagittarius A, “feeds” or actively accretes material. As a galactic way station, the CMZ controls when and if those materials travel to the black hole. Making direct observations to answer this question is tricky because the CMZ is home to lots of gas, dust, and stars, along with the fact that we are very far away and can only see it from the side.

    “To understand how our own CMZ regulates this gas inflow, we need a top-down picture,” Battersby says. “We probably have hundreds of thousands of images of our galactic center, all in this sideways perspective. We can learn everything we want about these clouds, but if you don’t know which ones are flowing toward the black hole or which ones are orbiting, then you can’t really say anything about how the CMZ regulates this gas flow. We can do a better job of modeling the three-dimensional gas distribution.”  

    In this series of papers, Battersby’s research group takes all available evidence to measure and catalog aspects of the clouds in this region of the galaxy to create the best possible top-down three-dimensional view of the CMZ.  

    The first step was to compile a comprehensive catalog of structures in the CMZ and to measure their physical and kinematic properties, such as mass, radii, temperature, and velocity dispersion, described in papers one and two.

    With these comprehensive catalogs, the next two papers focus on the small-scale structures within the catalog, which are thought to be individual molecular clouds that may be the birthplaces of clusters of stars, says Battersby. The third paper was led by former post-doctoral fellow Daniel Walker and the fourth paper was led by current Ph.D. student Dani Lipman.

    The galactic center is very bright and emits light at many wavelengths, therefore, the properties of the molecular clouds give clues about their location within it. The researchers used different approaches to measure and determine which clouds are in front of or behind the galactic center.

    “These molecular clouds are places where stars form only when the gas is very dense and very cold, and much of the gas in the galactic center is hot and diffuse,” Battersby says. “These cocoons of cool, dense gas mean that when they’re in front of the galactic center, they absorb the bright light from the galactic center, and they look like shadows. On the other hand, if those clouds are behind the galactic center, then this light passes through, and the clouds don’t block that light at all.”

    The researchers developed new techniques to measure how much light is blocked by the molecular clouds with the assumption that if a lot of light is blocked, it is likely that the cloud is in front of the galactic center.

    “Papers three and four use two different techniques. Paper three focuses on radio wavelengths of light, and it focuses on the molecular clouds absorbing the radio wavelengths. Paper four focuses on infrared dust extinction and details a careful technique to measure the “shadow” based on the properties of the cloud, thereby quantifying the likelihood that it’s either in front of or behind the Galactic Center,” says Battersby.

    A far-infrared Herschel image of our Galaxy’s Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) reveals a bright and dense ring of molecular gas and dust encircling our supermassive black hole, SgrA*. This image reveals our view of the Galaxy’s Center as seen from Earth. Researchers in the 3-D CMZ project used these data, plus radio, infrared, and submilleter data to quantify the likelihood of each cloud being either in front of or behind SgrA*. Researchers then used these likelihoods to test current theories of the 3-D structure of our Galaxies center and to present a new model of the 3-D structure of the CMZ. This image shows Herschel data of the inner 7 degrees of the Galaxy, with red showing 350 micron emission, green 160 micron, and blue 70 micron emission. At the approximate distance of the Galactic Center, this image shows approximately the inner 1 kpc (or about 3,200 light years) while the CMZ itself is about the inner 550 pc (or about 1,800 light years). (Contributed image)

    Next, the researchers modeled what their data suggested was happening in the CMZ and compared that to existing models of what the galactic center may look like from the top down.

    There were three predominant models of what our galactic center may look like, and Battersby says the locations of the molecular clouds the group mapped vary quite a bit across the different existing models. By accounting for the dynamic movements of various clouds, the researchers found existing models lacked this complexity and more work is needed to study the flow of gas in the CMZ.

    “Paper three presented a new simple ellipse model that is a slightly better fit than the previous models. Dani Lipman is currently drafting paper five that presents a quantitative best-fit model of the top-down view of our Galaxy’s CMZ, which includes the release of public code so future researchers can continue to improve our top-down model of the CMZ as new data arrives.”

    Lipman says that paper five aims to combine any available data to determine the most likely position of a given cloud in front of or behind Sagittarius A*. These positions are then used to find a best fitting top-down model for the CMZ. The model is continually updated and improved as more data becomes available,

    “Modern science is wonderfully collaborative, so releasing our code is a huge part of engaging in the community and offering resources to new scientists and students who are eager to join in answering these questions,” says Lipman.

    This series of papers is a major step forward in understanding the 3-D structure of our Galaxy’s CMZ and enables researchers, like Battersby’s Milky Way Lab, to start answering pressing questions about our galaxy,

    “The CMZ provides ‘close’ access to extreme phenomena seen throughout the Universe, such as an accreting supermassive black hole, and star formation in a highly turbulent environment,” says Battersby. “Knowing the 3-D structure is essential to tracing flows towards the black hole as well as testing theories of star formation in an extreme environment, because you need to know where everything is in this dynamic environment.”

    This work is supported by the National Science Foundation through Award Nos. 1816715, 2206510, and CAREER 2145689. Further details, including a narrated guided tour of the CMZ, can be found on the 3-D CMZ project website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cutting edge sustainable tech: the Servita supplier story 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cutting edge sustainable tech: the Servita supplier story 

    Servita specialises in helping organisations transform so they can thrive at the forefront of science and technology. 

    When Servita set up in the UK in 2016, it had a team of around 30. Now it’s 180 and counting. 

    Servita specialises in helping organisations transform through technology so they can overcome entrenched ways of working and operations. 

    UK managing director Rich Story said: “Keeping ourselves and our customers at the forefront of science and technology, whilst remembering it is people that remain at the centre of transformation, is our modus operandi.”

    Servita’s key capabilities including user-centred design, where the company has strong links to the Government Digital Service, and expertise in advanced, highly secure, high performance and sustainable cloud-hosted solutions. Sustainable cloud and carbon net zero are part of Servita’s core technical architecture principles.  

    Artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing are also strong competencies and people in the team have published research papers with Harvard University on natural language and semantic programming. 

    Servita has been active in the Vivace community since 2020. 

    Explaining what attracted the company to the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), Story said: “A community of suppliers that gets access to novel problems at the heart of government, facilitated by an organisation that seeks to create an environment to innovate whilst keeping a firm eye on time, cost and outcomes – it really chimed with us.”

    One early major project was working as part of the ACE core team on the UK government’s Covid response, helping drive an innovation agenda as part of strategic objectives. Story said: “Despite the backdrop it was one of the best things I’ve been part of during my career.”

    For a health commission, Servita delivered a digital tool capable of measuring and reporting digital deficit, so an organisation could understand where it stands digitally in relation to industry standards, and how much it would cost to get to where it needs to be. 

    Servita also remains an integral part of ACE’s wider NHS work, where it built and currently maintains a national data information exchange that links all of the secondary care landscape in England to the NHS App. 

    Story said: “We love the efficiency in tendering and speed to impact for delivery. ACE looks to deliver outcomes in 12-15 weeks which is good for government and the taxpayer. 

    “Most of all we love the types of projects ACE give us access to. As a business it’s led to us having some of our best case references and it’s critical for us to be able to give our staff access to projects that really make a difference as it gives us an identity and sense of pride.”

    He added: “Our mission statement is to keep ourselves and our partners at the cutting edge of science and technology with a focus on sustainable solutions for good and delivery excellence. 

    “I can honestly say that ACE and Vivace have enabled us to stay true to this by virtue of the novel and important problem spaces that they give us access to. ACE has introduced us to new customers and also to other like-minded suppliers that we have forged valuable relationships with. 

    “These things have all been significant in shaping our business.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Are artificial sweeteners okay for our health?

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Havovi Chichger and Caray A Walker, Anglia Ruskin University

    Artificial sweeteners are being added to a growing number of foods to reduce their sugar content while maintaining their appealing taste. But a growing body of research suggests these non-nutritive sweeteners may not always be a healthier and safer option. So what is our best option if we want to enjoy sweet-tasting foods without the harms of eating sugar?

    Artificial sweeteners were originally developed as chemicals to stimulate our sweet-taste sensing pathway. Like sugar molecules, these sweeteners act directly on our taste sensors in the mouth. They do this by sending a nerve signal to the body that a high-carbohydrate food source has been consumed – telling the body to break it down to use for energy.

    In the case of sugar consumption, this also stimulates our dopaminergic system. This is the part of the brain responsible for motivation and reward, linked to sugar cravings. From an evolutionary perspective, this means we’re hardwired to seek out high-sugar food for a source of energy and to ensure our survival. However, excessive consumption of sugar is well known to lead to health problems, such as metabolic disruption which can cause obesity and diabetes.

    Similarly, when artificial sweeteners, rather than sugar, cause this stimulation, there’s increasing evidence of similar metabolic imbalances. This happens despite the fact that artificial sweeteners do not seem to stimulate the dopamine system.

    Indeed, a study published earlier this year showed that within two hours of consuming sucralose (an amount equivalent to the sugar in two cans of soft drink), participants exhibited increased physiological hunger responses. The research measured blood flow to the hypothalamus, the region of our brain responsible for appetite control. They found that sucralose increased blood flow to this area of the brain.

    Studies have also shown that sweeteners can stimulate the same neurons as the appetite hormone, leptin. Over time, this could cause our hunger threshold to increase – meaning we need to eat more food to feel full. This suggests that consuming artificial sweeteners makes us more hungry, which could ultimately make us consume more calories.

    And it doesn’t stop with feeling hungrier. A large study, which was conducted over 20 years, found a link between sweetener consumption and greater accumulation of body fat. Interestingly, the study found that people who regularly consumed large amounts of sweeteners (equivalent to three or four cans of diet soda per day) had a nearly 70% greater incidence of obesity compared to those who consumed minimal amounts of artificial sweeteners (equivalent to half a can of diet soda per day).

    The study also considered this response to be independent of the amount of calories the participants consumed each day. To verify this, they reviewed food questionnaires to assess self-reported dietary intake. While self-reported consumption can have discrepancies, the study also used a coding nutrition data system to verify dietary intake. The results indicate that artificial sweeteners may be making us more likely to form fat in our body – regardless of what we’re consuming alongside the artificial sweeteners.

    A study published earlier this month also found that daily consumption of artificially sweetened drinks positively correlated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. But given these drinks contain a range of additives – including acidifiers, dyes, emulsifiers and sweeteners – it’s uncertain if this link can be entirely attributed to artificial sweeteners.

    What you need to know

    So is it time to give up sweeteners completely? Maybe not. There are many studies showing that short-term substitution of sugar with artificial sweeteners reduces body weight and body fat.

    Numerous studies have also shown that artificial sweetener consumption has no association with the development of diabetes or even with indicators of diabetes, such as fasting glucose or insulin levels. However, many of these studies were performed over relatively short time periods (up to 12 months) and only compared people consuming artificial sweeteners versus sugar. This makes it hugely confusing for all of us to know what we should do.

    To address this, earlier this month, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises the UK government on nutrition, released a position statement on the use of non-sugar sweeteners. This was in response to the World Health Organization, which suggested that sweeteners shouldn’t be used as a means of weight control due to their low-level association with risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.

    The SACN similarly concluded that non-sugar sweetener intake be minimised, especially for children. But they also stated that intake of sugars in general needs to be reduced. This is really at the heart of the issue. Artificial sweeteners may have significant negative health impacts, but are they as bad for us as sugar? The overwhelming literature on the negatives of excess sugar consumption currently suggests no – but our understanding of artificial sweeteners is still not as extensive as that for sugar.

    We need more research on artificial sweeteners to better understand their effects. Work is currently ongoing to collate a database of all clinical trials investigating sweetener use. This will allow us to better understand the sweetener research landscape and highlight areas where more work is needed.

    Until then, what should we do if we have a sweet-tooth? Unfortunately, like everything with nutrition, it’s best to only consume artificial sweeteners in moderation.

    There are no clear guidelines on the amounts of sweeteners we should or shouldn’t be consuming yet. But one of the guidelines from the recent SACN review is that the industry clearly label the amount of artificial sweeteners in food and drink. So hopefully it will be easier for us to make these choices in the future.

    Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University and Caray A Walker, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Delegation of Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Transport Branch visited Polytech

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A delegation from Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Transport Branch visited Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University to discuss cooperation with the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” and to get acquainted with the competencies of the Higher School of Industrial Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU.

    The Norilsk Nickel Polar Transport Branch (the successor to the Dudinka Sea Port) is the main regional transport hub, providing for the vital functions of the entire Taimyr Dolgano-Nenets and Norilsk industrial regions. The branch processes 95% of all incoming cargo for the Norilsk Nickel Group of Companies and consumers on the Taimyr Peninsula, and ships its finished products to ships bound for ports in Russia and around the world. The port’s cargo turnover is about four million tons.

    Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, Head of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov told the guests aboutestablished interaction with the Norilsk Nickel group of companies. Deputy Director for Improvement and Development of Production Activities of the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel Sergey Lyashenko gave a presentation of the branch, presenting the main areas of its work and infrastructure.

    Sergey Lyashenko outlined potential areas of cooperation with the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” based on the tasks and challenges facing the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel in the context of the development of the Northern Sea Route by the Norilsk Nickel group of companies and the corresponding increase in port cargo turnover. Among the key tasks, he noted the use of technologies to increase labor productivity and optimize the transfer of operational data to ensure the smooth operation of equipment along the entire port line, taking into account temperature restrictions and terrain. The guest also spoke about the existing barriers to the digitalization of the branch’s activities and the experience of overcoming them.

    Sergey Vladimirovich emphasized the interest in the competencies of the SPbPU PISh in the field of mathematical and computer modeling to solve the problems of automating all processes of the activities of the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel, taking into account different scenarios and the state of technological equipment.

    We are interested in establishing cooperation with an authoritative scientific center represented by the Advanced Engineering School of the Polytechnic University, which has experience and knowledge in the field of advanced digital and production technologies, including big data management, mathematical and computer modeling, and can ensure the formation of correct data that we can use to justify certain management decisions, analyze the effectiveness of selected approaches and measures, as well as medium-term and long-term planning, said Sergey Kolesnik, Deputy Director for Commercial Activities of Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Transport Branch.

    Then the meeting participants discussed the vision of the final result of the interaction in the context of building visual analytics for production automation and data management on the state of the branch’s technological infrastructure, and also considered the predicted economic effect of the cooperation. Speaking about lost profits and ways to reduce the economic risks of enterprises, SPbPU Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation Alexey Borovkov gave an example of the work of SPbPU PISh specialists for the Gazprom Pererabotka Blagoveshchensk company following the accident at the Amur Gas Processing Plant on January 5, 2022.

    Every day of the plant’s downtime after the accident brought multimillion-dollar losses to Gazprom. Employees of the SPbPU PISh were involved in the accident investigation, and they prepared a scientific and technical report on its causes. This work not only made a significant contribution to the development of the fuel and energy complex of Russia in terms of preventing similar emergencies at high-tech facilities in the industry, but also proved that the use of advanced digital and production technologies has a positive economic effect, reducing the risk of accidents and preventing lost profits and costs of enterprises, – noted Alexey Ivanovich.

    Deputy Director of the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of SPbPU Nikolay Efimov-Soini briefly spoke about the technology of digital twins — the main technology of system digital engineering developed by the PISh SPbPU. Nikolay Konstantinovich described the technology and outlined its key advantages, demonstrated within the framework of joint R&D with representatives of ten industries.

    The participants of the working meeting defined further steps for interaction taking into account competencies and current tasks. They also considered the possibilities of corporate training in production organization technologies and the basics of the Lean Manufacturing concept using the computer simulator of the same name and other products. rulers, developed by specialists of the SPbPU PISh on the CML-Bench®.EDU Digital Platform, which is gradually developing as a separate area of the Digital Platform for the Development and Application of Digital Twins CML-Bench®.

    At the end of the working visit, the guests assessed the capabilities and infrastructure of the Polytechnic Supercomputer Center, which ensures the implementation ofDigital platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench® science-intensive projects of the SPbPU Technological Development Ecosystem with leading high-tech companies and corporations of our country.

    After visiting the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”, the delegation of the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel got acquainted with the competencies and achievements of specialists of the Higher School of Industrial Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU and discussed possible areas of cooperation in educational and scientific activities in the field of logistics.

    Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education at SPbPU Dmitry Tikhonov spoke about the possibility of effective cooperation in creating and implementing advanced training programs for employees of Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Transport Branch, including in a distance learning format, as well as preparing specialized classes of schoolchildren for the company.

    Director of the Higher School of Management of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Olga Kalinina presented the experience of implementing educational projects related to logistics at the Higher School. In addition to training in the bachelor’s degree programs “International Logistics” and master’s degree program “International Logistics Systems”, Olga Vladimirovna noted the additional professional education program “Fundamentals of the Organization and Economics of Production in Metallurgy for Purchasing Management at Mechanical Engineering Enterprises”, successfully implemented jointly with the Higher School of Physics and Materials Technology of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University for the Purchasing Directorate of JSC “Power Machines”, as well as the creation of educational cases for the disciplines “Transport Logistics” and “Inventory Management” based on the results of internships of teachers in the Beaton group of companies.

    Deputy Director of the Higher School of Management of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology of Economics and Technology for educational and methodological work Zoya Simakova presented the results of the work carried out in 2023 and 2024 within the framework of project “Harmonization of production needs with the provision of components and materials” by order of JSC Power Machines – the Electrosila plant, andproject “Transformation of purchasing activities of an industrial enterprise”, implemented to reduce the slow-turnover inventory of JSC Power Machines – Leningrad Metal Plant.

    Head of the research laboratory “Management of production systems and business processes” of the Higher School of Management of IPMEiT Dmitry Metkin demonstrated the team’s experience in terms of performing contractual work for industrial customers on technical and economic justification, forming investment activity programs when planning new projects, as well as developing strategies for introducing industrial products to new markets.

    After the working meeting, Sergey Lyashenko, Deputy Director for Improvement and Development of Production Activities of the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel, held an interactive master class for students of the Higher School of Industrial Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU on the subject “Fundamentals of Logistics of Oil and Gas Enterprises”.

    In conclusion, representatives of the Higher School of Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade invited the delegation of the Polar Transport Branch of Norilsk Nickel to a tour. The guests inspected the classrooms and laboratories of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, and assessed the capabilities of the computer classes equipped with programs for studying specialized disciplines in logistics.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: AI-driven motion capture is transforming sports and exercise science

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Habib Noorbhai, Professor (Health & Sports Science), University of Johannesburg

    In sport, the margin between success and failure is often measured in milliseconds. It could be a cricketer adjusting their foot positioning, a runner refining their sprint start or a footballer perfecting their passing.

    This is where motion capture comes in – among the many approaches being used for athletic performance and movement analysis.

    Conventional motion capture tracks a person’s movements by using sensors or reflective markers linked to cameras. This provides data that helps sport scientists analyse how to improve an athlete’s performance, personalise their training programme and prevent possible injury.

    But for decades, motion capture in sport has been done using cumbersome suits and complex camera systems. These technologies offer high precision, but have remained out of reach for many because of their cost, technical demands and rigid laboratory constraints.

    As sport evolves, so too must the technology that analyses it. The way we measure human movement is experiencing a major transformation. Markerless motion capture (enabled by artificial intelligence, computer vision, depth sensors and multiple-camera systems) is set to revolutionise sports performance analysis.

    As a health and sports scientist with a focus on data, innovation and technology, I co-authored a study on markerless motion capture in sports and exercise. We reviewed and compared various motion capture options so that users can choose what system is best for their needs and budgets.

    This matters because markerless motion capture provides a practical alternative that’s accessible, scalable and adaptable to real-world settings. It’s a shift that promises to transform how athletes train, how they move, how injuries are assessed and how coaches refine performance.

    The problem with traditional motion capture

    Marker-based motion capture has long been considered the gold standard for analysing movement. Various systems use optoelectronic (devices that emit or detect light) tracking. They’ve provided researchers and coaches with precise three-dimensional (3D) data on joint angles, movement efficiency and biomechanical load. But these systems come with challenges.

    Traditional motion capture in a research laboratory, with screen analysis. Courtesy Habib Noorbhai

    Firstly, the need for reflective markers placed on the body introduces variability. Even slight misplacements can compromise data accuracy.

    Secondly, these systems are largely confined to laboratory environments. While they work well for controlled studies, they can’t always capture the dynamics of real-world sports performance.

    Thirdly, the cost of such setups, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars, limits their use to elite teams and well-funded research labs. This financial barrier places the technology out of reach for grassroots sport, where talent development is crucial.

    The rise of markerless motion capture

    Markerless motion capture, driven by deep learning and computer vision, allows movement to be tracked directly from video footage, without requiring physical markers. Models such as OpenPose, TensorFlow Pose Estimate and MeTRAbs can now identify and analyse human joint positions in 3D, all from a single video feed.

    A cricket bowler in action using pose estimation (markerless motion capture) in Plotly. Courtesy Habib Noorbhai

    This approach has profound implications. It means that coaches can capture real-time movement data from training sessions without interrupting the natural flow of play. Athletes can analyse their technique with nothing more than a smartphone camera. It opens the door for motion capture to move beyond the lab and onto the field, the court or the gym floor.

    Where markerless motion capture works best

    The ability to track movement in real-world environments makes markerless motion capture particularly valuable in high-speed and dynamic sports.

    In football, tracking player movement during passing drills can inform tactical decisions. In sprinting, coaches can analyse stride length and ground contact time without disrupting training sessions. In baseball and cricket, batting mechanics can be assessed without requiring players to wear cumbersome tracking suits or markers.

    Beyond performance analysis, the implications for injury management and rehabilitation are just as compelling.

    By integrating markerless motion capture into injury rehabilitation programmes, physiotherapists can monitor movement deficiencies in real time. A player recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, for example, can have their gait and knee valgus angles monitored remotely. This reduces the need for repeated clinic visits.

    Barriers

    Despite its potential, markerless motion capture is not without its challenges. While deep learning models are improving, they still struggle with occlusion: where body parts become temporarily hidden from view. Variations in lighting, camera angles and player body types can affect tracking accuracy too.

    To improve robustness across diverse sports settings, these issues need ongoing refinement in pose estimation algorithms. (These are computer vision techniques used to locate and track key points of the body on a person in a video.)

    Read more: Supershoes have transformed competitive distance running, but they remain controversial

    Another key limitation is validation. Traditional motion capture systems have been extensively tested for accuracy, but markerless models are still undergoing further validation in sport-specific contexts.

    Ensuring consistency and reliability will be crucial in convincing elite teams to transition away from marker-based setups.

    A future without markers?

    The question remains: will markerless motion capture completely disrupt and replace traditional systems? The reality is likely to be more nuanced.

    While marker-based motion capture will retain its place in highly controlled research settings, markerless alternatives will dominate practical, field-based applications. The accessibility, ease of use and real-time capabilities of markerless systems make them a game-changer.

    Read more: VAR and peace? Why tech-assisted refereeing won’t do away with disputed decisions at the World Cup

    As AI models become more sophisticated and sensor technology advances, the precision of markerless systems will continue to improve. The future of motion capture lies not in replacing one method with another, but in integrating multiple approaches to create a seamless, scalable and accurate framework for movement analysis.

    It’s no longer a question of whether markerless motion capture will take over, but when. And as the technology matures, the benefits for coaches, athletes and scientists alike will only continue to grow. It’s set to play an integral role in shaping the next generation of athletic performance and movement analysis.

    – AI-driven motion capture is transforming sports and exercise science
    – https://theconversation.com/ai-driven-motion-capture-is-transforming-sports-and-exercise-science-254646

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University is first in the category “Materials Science: Metallurgy” in the rating of the “Expert” center

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The results of the rating of scientific productivity of Russian universities by the analytical center “Expert” have been announced. In the category “Materials Science: Metallurgy” (Metals and Alloys), SPbPU soared to first place (plus six positions) and headed the list of universities, beating such competitors as St. Petersburg State University, MISiS, and Lomonosov Moscow State University.

    In the comprehensive engineering rating, Polytechnic showed a sharp increase, taking 6th place (up 9 positions) and entering the first group of technical universities. Overall, the university showed high positive dynamics in almost 13 subject areas: materials science, metallurgy, renewable energy, engineering sciences, mathematics, energy, chemical technology, management, economics, computer science, ecology, social sciences, biochemistry.

    In the field of materials science, engineering sciences, social sciences, economics and management, the Polytechnic University entered the top ten universities in the country. In engineering sciences – Arost by nine positions, in materials science (plus seven positions), in management (growth by four positions).

    Such bright results confirm the importance of focus and the chosen model of technological leadership. As a leading engineering university in Russia, we are proud to train professionals for key industries of the country and contribute to world science, – emphasizes the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.

    This is a well-deserved success – the success of our scientists and scientific and technological teams of the Polytechnic University, who actively participate not only in grants, but also in federal programs of the NCMU, Priority and PIS and wisely focus resources. Such a breakthrough growth of the university was influenced by systematic and long-term work aimed at increasing the effectiveness and quality of research work, – noted Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy of SPbPU Maria Vrublevskaya.

    The University has demonstrated steady growth in such indicators as scale, demand for scientific activity and excellence. These criteria show to what extent scientific achievements and ideas created at the University are used and applied in the technological structure and economy of the country, as well as the unique scientific competencies and results of the higher education institution, determining its leading position in various branches of science and technology.

    The Expert Analytical Center has been conducting a study of the publication activity of Russian universities since 2016. The ranking evaluates universities based on indicators of scientific productivity in subject areas over the previous four years, relying on publications in the Scopus database.

    The calculation methodology is based on four semantic blocks:

    “Demand for scientific activity” (the level of citation of the university in the region); “Scale, sustainability of scientific activity” (the share of the university’s publications in the total volume of publications in the country and the Hirsch index of researchers); “Quality of growth” (concentration of articles in journals); “Excellence” (representation among the best publications in international databases).

    The combination of these measures will allow optimizing the management of the process of forming the scientific policy of the university, achieving positive changes in the structure of scientific research and bringing the university to a new qualitative level. In total, experts analyzed 143 universities in subject rankings this year.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Choose Europe for Science – 19-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    During the May II plenary session, MEPs will debate the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative that Ursula von der Leyen unveiled at an event held at La Sorbonne University in Paris on 5 May 2025. With investment in fundamental, free, and open research being questioned in many parts of the world, as seen recently in the United States, this initiative aims to attract scientists, researchers, academics and highly skilled professionals to Europe.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The impact of climate change is felt long before adulthood The key to understanding how climate change affects the local biodiversity might lie with the youth, scientists have recently discovered.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Close-up of an adult dragonfly, the Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis), one of the European species featured in the new study. Researchers found that the traits developed during the dragonfly’s juvenile aquatic stage play a major role in shaping biodiversity patterns observed in the adults across Europe. Photo credit: Erland Refling NielsenThe key to understanding how climate change affects the local biodiversity might lie with the youth, scientists have recently discovered.
    A new study from the University of Aberdeen and McGill University Canada, and published in Global Ecology and Biogeography, has found that the impact of climate change on adult animals is strongly affected by the impact they experienced as juveniles.
    The scientists studied dragonflies, and found that, across Europe, the conditions in lakes, streams, and wetlands that shape the morphological diversity of aquatic juveniles (nymphs) are more important in explaining the diversity of terrestrial adults than conditions on land. These findings challenge conventional biodiversity models that focus only on the adult stage and provide a new framework for understanding the cascading effects of climate and habitat changes across life stages.
    Study author Dr Lesley Lancaster from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences said: “This is a really important study, as many predictions for how climate might impact diversity are based on observations of adult stages, because these tend to be more active, visible, and larger. However, we find that the observed climate impacts are actually largely indirect consequences of processes impacting juveniles – but we did find that direct impacts of climate on adults becomes more important at higher latitudes.

    This is a really important study, as many predictions for how climate might impact diversity are based on observations of adult stages, because these tend to be more active, visible, and larger.” Dr Lesley Lancaster

    Lead author Dr. Lars L. Iversen, from McGill University, added: “This is really useful going forward, as the results will provide a new general rule to guide how biodiversity scientists forecast climate responses – depending on juvenile or adult characteristics. The results can also help members of the public to understand how life stage is important in driving climate responses.
    “Finally, scientists and policy makers will be able use the data to determine whether they should target juveniles or adults for active climate adaptation and mitigation practices.”
    The study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany), and the Leibniz Association.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major investment partnership worth £24 billion to transform key growth sectors and deliver affordable housing across UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Major investment partnership worth £24 billion to transform key growth sectors and deliver affordable housing across UK

    A major new partnership between the Crown Estate and Lendlease has been agreed which will unlock housing and science innovation hubs across the UK worth £24 billion.

    • Joint venture between The Crown Estate and Lendlease will unlock housing and science innovation hubs across the UK worth £24 billion.

    • Major investment pipeline includes land portfolio with the potential to build 26,000 new homes, with around one-third allocated to affordable housing – supporting the government’s aim to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. 

    • Pipeline also includes plans to build vast new office space and labs, creating 100,000 new jobs across the country, boosting economic growth and delivering on the Plan for Change. 

    Major new partnership from the Crown Estate and Lendlease with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of £24 billion will develop housing and science and innovation hubs and help create 100,000 new jobs and 26,000 new homes, backing the Government’s Plan for Change.  

    The joint venture allows The Crown Estate to invest in Lendlease’s undeveloped UK land and land management portfolio, providing support on existing projects, helping to transform the UK’s science, tech and innovation sectors and deliver new housing. 

    The projects have the potential to deliver around 10 million square feet of workspace and labs, and deliver vital investment in digital and technologies and the life sciences sectors – two of the key growth sectors in the government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy. 

    The pipeline is also hoped to deliver over 26,000 new homes for people across the country – of which a third are expected to be affordable housing – backing this Government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes and get Britain building again as part of the Plan for Change.

    In support of the partnership, the Chancellor and Minister for Investment met with Lendlease’s Group CEO Tony Lombardo and Dan Labbad, CEO of The Crown Estate in Downing Street

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    We are pulling every lever to grow our economy so we can put more money in people’s pockets, boost home ownership and make Britain a global hub for life sciences through our Plan for Change.

    This includes creating the right environment for organisations like The Crown Estate and Lendlease to partner, helping us to unlock capital to get Britain building and get Britain growing.

    Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson CBE said:

    This is yet another strong endorsement of the UK’s investment environment and our thriving real estate sector as this government has committed to get Britain building again, a crucial part of delivering our Plan for Change.  

    This pipeline and the creation of additional research labs across the UK, will be a massive boost for our world-leading science, innovation and technology sectors, all key growth sectors in our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.” 

    The government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy will make doing business quicker, easier and more profitable than ever before. Its 10-year plan will provide business with the certainty they need to invest and innovate in the growth-driving sectors that will shape the UK’s economy, drive regional development, enhance living standards and create high quality jobs.

    Businesses have identified that inadequate infrastructure has impacted the growth of UK firms, with the UK suffering from a chronic lack of lab space compared to other leading global hubs, but this pipeline will ensure high-growth sectors have the lab space, transport and housing they need. 

    If the life sciences real estate markets of Cambridge, Oxford and London were to match their US counterparts by 2035, it could mean 67,000 more high-skilled, high-wage jobs and £4bn a year in additional GVA. 

    Areas poised for office and housing development include around Euston Station, Silvertown and Thamesmead Waterfront in London, as well as Smithfield in Birmingham.   

    The joint venture will provide a substantial boost to the UK’s thriving tech ecosystem, which is the third biggest in the world and worth more than £1 trillion.

    Group CEO of Lendlease Tony Lombardo said:

    This landmark partnership between our two organisations will combine our shared expertise in delivering city shaping precincts and creating long-term benefits for communities.

    As master developer, we look forward to working with The Crown Estate to unlock value within our UK development portfolio, for partners, government clients and our securityholders.

    Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, said:

    With strong support from local and national government, we look forward to working with Lendlease and others to realise the potential of these projects to create jobs, stimulate growth and positively impact lives, while also generating income for the UK. 

    As a country, we face challenges to unlocking growth. To support this, we need to spark investment in sectors like science, technology, and housing, alongside deep collaboration across communities, government, and the private sector. This joint venture is an example of how The Crown Estate is harnessing its mandate to act in the UK’s long-term national interest, supported by new investment powers, and stepping up its ambition to support inclusive growth for the nation.” 

    Since entering office, the government has been focused on restoring economic stability – the foundation of growth – to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK. Today’s announcement demonstrates how confidence in the UK’s investment environment translates to real jobs and growth for local communities.    

    This major announcement comes due to the Crown Estate Act 2025 which increased The Crown Estate’s powers to unlock further investment, kickstarting growth and generating greater returns for the public purse whilst benefitting public services across the UK.

    Notes to editors:

    • The Crown Estate has a diverse £16 billion portfolio that includes urban centres and development opportunities; one of the largest rural holdings in the country; Regent Street and St James’s in London’s West End; and Windsor Great Park. They also manage the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, playing a major role in the UK’s world leading offshore wind sector. 

    • Lendlease is an integrated real estate group. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, it is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its core capabilities are reflected in the operating segments of investments, development and construction, and providing a sustainable competitive advantage in delivering innovative integrated solutions for its customers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The popular science Smart Quest was held for the first time at NSU as part of the Smart Picnic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    This format of participation of Novosibirsk State University in the traditional spring popular science festival “Smart Picnic” from Akadempark is new. The organizers tried to hold an interesting event that would introduce schoolchildren and their parents to the best university of the Multiverse a little closer.

    36 schoolchildren aged 7 to 19 took part in the Smart Quest. There were 8 teams in total, whose task was to complete a special route. The groups of participants for two hours seemed to become NSU students, who had to pass “all the tests” of the semester session and pass a total of 10 tests and exams on interactive platforms of NSU faculties and institutes.

    The grades were recorded in a real record book, which, following the quest, was given to the “commission” to sum up the results and calculate the total number of points received by the children in each game. All those who became excellent or good students received gifts from partners – Rostelecom and T-Bank (secret: absolutely all participants received prizes for participating in the quest).

    The winning teams of Smart Quest were:

    1st place – team “Roll’s Theorems”.

    2nd place – Smart team.

    3rd place – team “We know everything, but remember nothing.”

    — I decided to participate because I am planning to enter NSU in the future, I wanted to learn more about the programs. The most interesting thing was talking to the volunteers, they told me about the faculties and life at the university in general. The tasks were also interesting, for example, building a “bridge” out of noodles. We were rooting for every 100 g that the bridge would withstand.

    Our team consisted of six people, three guys from my school and two eighth-graders from Novokuznetsk. The guys were proactive. One of them was doing engineering shifts, which was very helpful in some tasks. Despite the fact that we are from different cities, we became very close with the guys, there were no disagreements, we are especially grateful to the volunteer Maria, who tried to bring us together.

    The name for the team was chosen as “Roll’s Theorems” because they had recently taken a session and the theorem was one of the questions.

    We are very happy about the victory, it was unexpected for us, because there were teams of guys that initially seemed stronger to us. We were also pleased with the prizes from the sponsors! – Vasilisa Bedareva, a student of grades 11-10, shared her impressions SUNC NSU and a member of the Rolle’s Theorems team.

    Almost all faculties and institutes of NSU took part in the Smart Quest; interactive platforms were organized in three buildings of the university – the main building, the laboratory building and the educational building.

    — I participated in Smart Quest as a volunteer headman who helped his group of newly minted “students” cope with the quest tasks. I decided to participate because I wanted to be a small part of NSU for a while. Most of all, of course, I liked showing new people our university, which looks like a small amusement park with its own zones.

    I was on the Pink team, because of their age and small number of participants they had no advantage, but they weren’t interested in winning. The little girls wanted to learn more, see more and leave more memories for the future, – said Timofey Dolgov, a fourth-year student Physics Department of NSU.

    We thank the schoolchildren who decided to get to know NSU better, and the volunteers of the Humanities Institute, the Faculty of Information Technology, the General Medicine department of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Technology, the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, the Faculty of Economics and the Advanced Engineering School for their help in organizing and lively communication with our guests!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 500 winners of the second competitive selection for the appointment of the Russian Presidential Scholarship for postgraduate and adjunct students have been determined

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The 500 winners of the second competitive selection for the appointment of the Russian Federation Presidential Scholarship for postgraduate and adjunct students have been announced. The monthly scholarship is 75 thousand rubles. The payment is assigned for a period of 1 to 4 years.

    “I congratulate the graduate students and adjuncts who won the competitive selection. The Russian President’s scholarship is awarded for the second time, and it is received by the truly worthy – those who advance the field of research and development and help achieve the national goal set by the head of state – technological leadership. We are proud and appreciate your contribution to the scientific development of our country!” – said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The research of scholarship applicants must be based on the priorities defined by the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, approved by Vladimir Putin on February 28, 2024.

    “The presidential scholarship is awarded to talented young researchers who will have to solve large-scale problems. We are talking about creating technologies and products that will surpass foreign analogues, will ensure technological leadership of our country in key, promising areas. For this, our scholarship holders have the main thing – talent, knowledge, daring, as well as the support of mentors and the state,” said the head of the Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov.

    Candidates for such support were nominated by their scientific supervisors.

    In total, more than 4.6 thousand applications from 73 subjects of Russia were received for the competition. Representatives of all federal districts became winners, including 2 postgraduate students from new regions.

    The largest number of applications were submitted in the field of “Technical Sciences”.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Science and education in the prism of agro-industrial complex: State University of Management and Holding Company Elinar signed a cooperation agreement

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On May 19, 2025, a ceremonial signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of higher education and science was held between the State University of Management and JSC Holding Company Elinar.

    On behalf of the State University of Management, the agreement was signed by Rector Vladimir Stroyev, and on behalf of Elinar, by General Director Igor Kuimov.

    After signing the agreement, the high-ranking guest admitted that in 1985 he took advanced training courses at the State University of Management, which later helped him a lot. The year was a turning point, when many scientific discussions were held about the path the Soviet Union’s economy should take.

    Vladimir Stroyev recalled that at that time, the Center for Business Games was functioning at the State University of Management, where many successful entrepreneurs and managers came from. And graduates of those years have not forgotten their native university to this day – on Fridays they gathered for an evening meeting at the initiative of Vasily Golubev, Member of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs.

    Continuing the theme of turning points, Vladimir Vitalyevich noted that during the restructuring of the education system in the 1990s, the State University of Management managed to preserve elements of the Soviet system focused on management in the industrial sectors. And today, when higher education and science are being reformed again, the State University of Management is doing everything to quickly restore clear connections with various sectors of the economy.

    “Modern graduates are very ambitious and will definitely become managers. But without an industry base, it will be difficult for them to meet the demands of the time. In addition, they have a new clip-based thinking that quickly switches between tasks. Accordingly, educational programs need to be rebuilt for this perception. The cooperation of our university with large manufacturers will help them become truly skilled and competent managers. Therefore, I am glad that we have started contacting you and signed this agreement,” Vladimir Stroyev addressed Igor Kuimov.

    After the official part, representatives of GUU and Elinar went to discuss working proposals. Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov headed the section on education, Vice-Rector Maria Karelina – the section on science.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Government setting new ten-year budgets for R&D funding

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on DSIT setting new 10 year budgets for R&D funding.

    John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive of Wellcome, said:

    “The UK has long been a global leader in R&D and staying at the forefront requires ambitious and sustainable investment over the long-term. Making progress on critical challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance and mental health, won’t happen overnight. We welcome the government’s long-term commitment to supporting science and scientific infrastructures. This will unlock R&D for breakthrough discovery science and research with potential to improve and save lives both in the UK and beyond.”

     

    Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

    “Good science can take time, the pay-off can be decades later. That is why investing in research has to be a long game. The Government recommitting to the principle of ten year cycles of public investment is very welcome. It provides stability to those doing the research and shows businesses that the UK is a reliable place to invest. We look forward to seeing the details.”

     

    Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

    “The Government’s commitment to 10-year R&D funding budgets represents a positive and strategic shift that the Academy has long advocated for. The principles of this approach can provide the stability needed for breakthrough health research and innovation, potentially transforming our ability to tackle complex challenges from antimicrobial resistance to developing the next generation of medical technologies. 

    “We are particularly pleased to see the criteria focus on attracting global talent, supporting partnerships and fostering international collaboration, which are essential to maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in medical science. Building sustainable research careers, collaborative networks and creative public-private partnerships takes time, and this long-term approach acknowledges this reality. 

    “We look forward to learning more specific details in the coming weeks, including how this funding will be sourced and allocated across health research. Overall, this announcement marks a positive step towards improving the conditions for the life sciences sector to drive both better health outcomes and economic growth.” 

     

    Prof Sir John Hardy, Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, said:

    “Long term certainty over science budgets would be an enormous help in planning research projects. Too often the vicissitudes of annual budget shifts have damaged scientific progress. Boom and bust destroys research progress.”

     

     

    ‘Government to set new ten-year budgets for R&D funding’ was published at 00:01 UK time on Monday 19th May. 

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-set-new-ten-year-budgets-for-rd-funding

     

     Declared interests

    The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Britain’s net zero construction workforce is already at risk of burn out

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Addyman, Associate Professor in Project Management, UCL

    Kittirat Roekburi/Shutterstock

    The pressure of decarbonising industrial sectors is weighing on workers.

    The UK’s Labour government seeks a low-carbon and homegrown energy supply by 2030. The scale and pace of this transformation is unprecedented in the country’s power sector, and will involve building twice as much transmission infrastructure (pylons, cables, substations) in the next five years as was built over the last decade.

    Much of the workforce will be drawn from the construction sector, which employs 2.3 million people. Construction forms the dominant supply chain to the 17 major infrastructure projects involved in an overhaul of the electricity grid that will connect new wind farms in the North Sea and northern Scotland to homes and businesses across Great Britain.

    The workers “on the tools” who will carry out much of this transformation are struggling. The latest analysis from the Office for National Statistics suggests that the suicide risk of construction workers is three times higher than the male national average. Scholars of construction project management have identified a toxic workplace culture in the industry, citing aggressive market competition and demanding performance metrics.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    This is a problem that is largely being ignored. When planners at the National Energy System Operator assessed the UK’s capacity to build a clean power sector by 2030, they considered the absolute number of workers needed, the skills required and how employment is changing in the sector.

    Their assessment failed to consider the broader implications for workforce mental health and wellbeing of such a quick and comprehensive upgrade – but it is people who are going through a rapid transition, not just infrastructure.

    Expect more of these in years to come.
    J R Patterson/Shutterstock

    Going green, feeling blue

    Construction workers already endure long hours and stress due to tight deadlines. A rapid transition to green power will substantially increase their workload, unless managed carefully.

    Our report, published July 2024, looked into wellbeing and suicide in the construction industry. We concluded that the UK government, major infrastructure owners such as National Grid and their supply chain partners who provide specialist design and construction services, must work together to solve this problem.

    Major infrastructure owners offer mental health services, such as confidential counselling, legal advice and financial guidance, to help their own employees manage personal or work-related issues. But most workers on the tools are not directly employed by these owners. Most are self-employed, or hired by construction firms, of which 99% are small- and medium-sized enterprises.

    More than 96% of construction firms have fewer than 15 employees. Smaller suppliers of specialist trade skills, like electrical and mechanical installation, have fewer employment protections and more compressed schedules, and are even less likely to have the capacity to provide these services.

    Some infrastructure owners and big construction companies extend their health and wellbeing services to these smaller suppliers. However, in an industry that is dominated by competitive tendering, which favours suppliers that keep costs low, it is no surprise that uptake has been low.

    Owners of infrastructure assets like electricity pylons and substations can drive workplace improvements by adopting procurement models that prioritise suppliers that are offering measures to improve worker wellbeing.

    Research from one of us (Jing Xu) and fellow project management expert Yanga Wu, has shown that the top-down prescriptive approach traditionally applied to health and safety in construction does not work for wellbeing. This requires a bottom-up approach, that makes it easy for workers to tell managers what they are struggling with and what they think would help.

    The construction sector also faces a shortage of workers and skills required for the green transition. The industry training board forecasts that the industry must attract the equivalent of 50,300 extra workers a year to meet expected levels of work over the next five years.

    The UK is not training enough workers to achieve net zero.
    Paya Mona/Shutterstock

    In the power sector, however, there is the additional complication of an ageing workforce, as well as differences in employment conditions between permanent and contract staff. Key expertise is at risk of being lost with retirements. Older workers often face additional pressure, not only to meet performance targets but also to compensate for gaps in expertise, and all within a fast-paced environment.

    To improve mental health and wellbeing among a diverse workforce requires engaging with workers directly and ensuring their voices are heard. This involves more than upgrading technical skills. Research to better understand how organisations can care for their workforce in the context of increasing pressures due to achieving net zero is also vital.

    Further research and collaboration with infrastructure owners and major construction contractors could help manage the risks and provide valuable insights for other sectors that will need to follow suit, such as heating, transport and agriculture.

    It is imperative to consider what a transition means: the technical transition of replacing outmoded technology, as well as the social transition, which prioritises not only skills but workplace mental health. Without a focus on both policy and people, clean power will not be delivered.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Simon Addyman receives funding from University College London.

    Jing Xu receives funding from University College London.

    – ref. Britain’s net zero construction workforce is already at risk of burn out – https://theconversation.com/britains-net-zero-construction-workforce-is-already-at-risk-of-burn-out-249328

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney

    I. Noyan Yilmaz, Shutterstock

    Societies increasingly rely on scientists to guide decisions in times of uncertainty, from pandemic outbreaks to the rise of artificial intelligence.

    Addressing climate change is no different. For governments wanting to introduce ambitious climate policies, public trust in climate scientists is pivotal, because it can determine whether voters support or resist those efforts.

    So do people trust climate scientists, and what affects levels of trust? Our new study shows climate scientists are less trusted than other types of scientists globally. But there are profound variations in this trust gap between countries, and within them.

    Finding ways to increase trust in climate scientists is crucial if the world is to implement effective policies to avert dangerous global warming.

    Low trust in climate scientists may hinder effective climate science communication and reduce public engagement with climate solutions.
    Mozgova, Shutterstock.

    Examining trust in science

    We collaborated with an international team of researchers to analyse data from one of the largest cross-national surveys of public attitudes toward science. The dataset includes responses from nearly 70,000 people across 68 countries. It offers a rare global snapshot of how people perceive scientists in general, and climate scientists in particular.

    Each of these people rated their trust in climate scientists on a five-point scale, with a five indicating very high trust and a one being not trusted at all.

    Trust in scientists more generally was assessed using a 12-item questionnaire that measured perceptions of expertise, integrity, benevolence and openness. The responses were averaged to create a composite trust score. Higher scores reflected higher levels of trust.

    We found trust in scientists was moderately strong worldwide, as it was above the midpoint of the scale (averaging 3.6 out of 5). But trust in climate scientists was slightly lower (averaging 3.5). The difference between the two scores is what we call the “trust gap”.

    In 43 of the 68 countries, the trust gap was statistically significant, with people reporting lower trust in climate scientists than in scientists in general.

    The size of the trust gap varied between countries. In Europe, Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) and North America the gap tended to be smaller. Larger gaps emerged in parts of Latin America and Africa.

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo had the widest gap, with climate scientists trusted less than in any other country. This may reflect local concerns that global climate agendas — often supported by international scientists — prioritise resource extraction for foreign renewable energy demands over local interests. Such feelings may be particularly acute in regions where mining has brought limited community benefit.

    Six countries bucked the trend. Climate scientists were more trusted than scientists overall in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Egypt, Israel and Germany.

    In China and Germany, this may reflect strong investment in green energy, high levels of public support for climate action, and the visible role climate scientists play in shaping policy.

    What’s going on here?

    Not surprisingly, people with more positive views of science tended to express higher trust in scientists and even more so, climate scientists. But people with dim views of scientists were less trusting of climate scientists.

    Age also played a role. Older people tended to trust scientists more than younger people. But younger people were more likely to trust climate scientists.

    Climate scientists were generally less trusted than scientists regardless of gender. While men reported slightly lower trust in scientists than women did, the difference was not statistically significant.

    Among all the variables we examined, political orientation emerged as one of the strongest factors associated with trust in climate scientists. People with right-leaning or conservative views reported lower trust in climate scientists compared with those with more left-leaning or liberal views.

    However, the meaning of terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” can vary considerably between countries. For example, in Australia, the Liberal Party is politically right-leaning. But in the United States, “liberal” typically refers to left-leaning or progressive views. This variation makes cross-national comparisons complex and requires careful interpretation of results.

    As a particular person’s political orientation shifted further to the right, the trust gap between climate scientists and scientists widened.

    In 28 countries across the Americas, Europe and Oceania, right-leaning orientation was associated not only with lower trust in climate scientists than people who leaned to the left, but also with a larger gap between trust for scientists generally and trust for climate scientists.

    In a smaller subset of countries, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, the pattern reversed – right-leaning individuals expressed greater trust in climate scientists than their left-leaning counterparts.

    These findings suggest it is not political orientation alone that drives public trust, but how climate issues are framed in political discourse. In many Western countries, public messaging around climate change — particularly from conservative parties and media — has cast doubt on the credibility of climate science. This politicisation, often amplified by vested interests such as fossil fuel lobbies, may help explain the erosion of trust among some conservative groups.

    Closing the trust gap

    Trust alone will not solve the climate crisis, but it plays a crucial role in shaping how societies respond to scientific guidance.

    Ambitious, evidence-based policies require public support to succeed. A persistent trust gap — no matter how small — can undermine that support and help explain why many governments continue to fall short of their climate targets.

    Closing the trust gap through transparent communication, inclusive public engagement, and consistent political leadership is essential for turning awareness into action.

    Omid Ghasemi receives funding from the Australian Academy of Science.

    Ben Newell receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/climate-scientists-are-trusted-globally-just-not-as-much-as-other-scientists-heres-why-256441

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney

    I. Noyan Yilmaz, Shutterstock

    Societies increasingly rely on scientists to guide decisions in times of uncertainty, from pandemic outbreaks to the rise of artificial intelligence.

    Addressing climate change is no different. For governments wanting to introduce ambitious climate policies, public trust in climate scientists is pivotal, because it can determine whether voters support or resist those efforts.

    So do people trust climate scientists, and what affects levels of trust? Our new study shows climate scientists are less trusted than other types of scientists globally. But there are profound variations in this trust gap between countries, and within them.

    Finding ways to increase trust in climate scientists is crucial if the world is to implement effective policies to avert dangerous global warming.

    Low trust in climate scientists may hinder effective climate science communication and reduce public engagement with climate solutions.
    Mozgova, Shutterstock.

    Examining trust in science

    We collaborated with an international team of researchers to analyse data from one of the largest cross-national surveys of public attitudes toward science. The dataset includes responses from nearly 70,000 people across 68 countries. It offers a rare global snapshot of how people perceive scientists in general, and climate scientists in particular.

    Each of these people rated their trust in climate scientists on a five-point scale, with a five indicating very high trust and a one being not trusted at all.

    Trust in scientists more generally was assessed using a 12-item questionnaire that measured perceptions of expertise, integrity, benevolence and openness. The responses were averaged to create a composite trust score. Higher scores reflected higher levels of trust.

    We found trust in scientists was moderately strong worldwide, as it was above the midpoint of the scale (averaging 3.6 out of 5). But trust in climate scientists was slightly lower (averaging 3.5). The difference between the two scores is what we call the “trust gap”.

    In 43 of the 68 countries, the trust gap was statistically significant, with people reporting lower trust in climate scientists than in scientists in general.

    The size of the trust gap varied between countries. In Europe, Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) and North America the gap tended to be smaller. Larger gaps emerged in parts of Latin America and Africa.

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo had the widest gap, with climate scientists trusted less than in any other country. This may reflect local concerns that global climate agendas — often supported by international scientists — prioritise resource extraction for foreign renewable energy demands over local interests. Such feelings may be particularly acute in regions where mining has brought limited community benefit.

    Six countries bucked the trend. Climate scientists were more trusted than scientists overall in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Egypt, Israel and Germany.

    In China and Germany, this may reflect strong investment in green energy, high levels of public support for climate action, and the visible role climate scientists play in shaping policy.

    What’s going on here?

    Not surprisingly, people with more positive views of science tended to express higher trust in scientists and even more so, climate scientists. But people with dim views of scientists were less trusting of climate scientists.

    Age also played a role. Older people tended to trust scientists more than younger people. But younger people were more likely to trust climate scientists.

    Climate scientists were generally less trusted than scientists regardless of gender. While men reported slightly lower trust in scientists than women did, the difference was not statistically significant.

    Among all the variables we examined, political orientation emerged as one of the strongest factors associated with trust in climate scientists. People with right-leaning or conservative views reported lower trust in climate scientists compared with those with more left-leaning or liberal views.

    However, the meaning of terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” can vary considerably between countries. For example, in Australia, the Liberal Party is politically right-leaning. But in the United States, “liberal” typically refers to left-leaning or progressive views. This variation makes cross-national comparisons complex and requires careful interpretation of results.

    As a particular person’s political orientation shifted further to the right, the trust gap between climate scientists and scientists widened.

    In 28 countries across the Americas, Europe and Oceania, right-leaning orientation was associated not only with lower trust in climate scientists than people who leaned to the left, but also with a larger gap between trust for scientists generally and trust for climate scientists.

    In a smaller subset of countries, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, the pattern reversed – right-leaning individuals expressed greater trust in climate scientists than their left-leaning counterparts.

    These findings suggest it is not political orientation alone that drives public trust, but how climate issues are framed in political discourse. In many Western countries, public messaging around climate change — particularly from conservative parties and media — has cast doubt on the credibility of climate science. This politicisation, often amplified by vested interests such as fossil fuel lobbies, may help explain the erosion of trust among some conservative groups.

    Closing the trust gap

    Trust alone will not solve the climate crisis, but it plays a crucial role in shaping how societies respond to scientific guidance.

    Ambitious, evidence-based policies require public support to succeed. A persistent trust gap — no matter how small — can undermine that support and help explain why many governments continue to fall short of their climate targets.

    Closing the trust gap through transparent communication, inclusive public engagement, and consistent political leadership is essential for turning awareness into action.

    Omid Ghasemi receives funding from the Australian Academy of Science.

    Ben Newell receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/climate-scientists-are-trusted-globally-just-not-as-much-as-other-scientists-heres-why-256441

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Zappify Reviews: Don’t Waste Your Money On Zappify 2.0 Till You’ve Read This!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWARK, N.J., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Each year, mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 700,000 people worldwide, making the tiny-looking insect the deadliest animal on Earth. Malaria alone accounts for nearly 600,000 of those deaths, with an estimated 597,000 malaria-related fatalities in 2023 despite intensified control efforts. Dengue fever is not far behind, infecting over 390 million people annually and causing approximately 21,000 deaths each year.

    Beyond these two, mosquitoes also transmit Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and other pathogens, placing over half of the world’s population at risk of at least one mosquito-borne disease. In 2024 alone, more than 7.6 million dengue cases have already been reported, highlighting how critical effective protection is in both urban and rural settings. Even as global malaria cases hit 249 million in 2022, resulting in 608,000 deaths, the need for transformative, chemical-free solutions has never been clearer.

    Introducing Zappify: an innovative, compact bug zapper crafted to protect your home and outdoor spaces without emitting DEET or other harmful chemicals. Harnessing a tri-band UV LED system skillfully tuned to the peak attraction wavelengths of Aedes and Anopheles species, Zappify lures mosquitoes into a high-voltage grid, instantly neutralizing them.

    Many Zappify reviews say its lightweight cylinder build delivers 360° coverage, generating a mosquito-free zone of up to 30 m² in under minutes, while the whisper-quiet operation and up to 13 hours of battery life mean you can enjoy pest-free evenings without disturbance. Constructed in collaboration with entomologists and materials scientists, Zappify blends groundbreaking insect behavior science with rugged, intuitive engineering to provide visible results.

    Are you ready to reclaim your space from these deadly pests? Read on to understand how Zappify’s sophisticated technology works, why it’s become a crucial tool for families and professionals, and how you can purchase your device today to eradicate it from your space…

    What Is Zappify?

    Zappify is a groundbreaking, portable anti-mosquito lamp engineered to turn any space, indoors or out, bug-free without the use of toxic chemicals. Zappify is a 100% safe and rechargeable bug zapper that allows you to enjoy your interior and outdoors bug and mosquito free in the USA and Canada.

    Zappify is equipped with advanced technology that uses three different wavelengths of light to attract, trap, and eliminate mosquitoes and bugs to death with unparalleled efficiency. Zappify 2.0 comes with numerous innovative features and unbeatable advantages that make it the best mosquito zapper out there.

    Created from the real-life frustration of Nathan Clarke, Zappify provides a humane,silent solution to bites and buzzing. Its sophisticated, cylindrical form factor permits 360° bug attraction, whether positioned on a table or dangling from a window. Zappify’s chemical-free function guarantees it’s harmless for kids, animals, and anyone with sensitivities to traditional insect deterrents.

    Many consumer reports categorically state that Zappify is a must-have in your outdoor gear because of its 3-in-1 design, which functions as a bug zapper, flashlight, and an all-weather camping light. All Zappify customer’ review claim that it is portable and lightweight, making it simple to carry with you wherever you go. The Zappify is constructed with top-quality components for exceptional durability and functionality.

    The functionality of Zappify 2.0 is ensured throughout all four seasons because they are designed with enduring quality in mind, are weather-resistant, strong and sturdy. Beneath its sleek exterior, Zappify 2.0 delivers remarkable performance: a three-band UV lamp that releases three unique wavelengths shown to draw up to three times more flying insects, funneling them into a 2,000-volt electrified grid that offers instant zaps.

    Zappify promises to be a long-lasting addition to both your indoors and outdoor spaces, offering reliability and performance for years to come. Runners, campers, and backyard chefs alike appreciate the Zappify rechargeable battery’s commendable 13-hour runtime, which is twice the capacity of the original model. Zappify also has an intuitive digital readout that keeps the user informed when it’s time to recharge.

    Developed for casual users and outdoor professionals, many user reviews emphatically agree that Zappify offers professional-grade bug control in a compact, IPX5-waterproof package. A handy carabiner makes repositioning or relocation of the Zappify very easy, while its USB-C charging port ensures steady protection for the device. Zappify provides a scientifically grounded, chemical-free defense that keeps families, travelers, and event planners one step ahead of bites and buzzing.

    Many American and Canadian customers find Zappify effective, working well both inside and outside, and catching hundreds of bugs. The Zappify 2.0 receives positive feedback for its appearance, with every customer noting its attractive purple LED design, and customers consider it worth the price. Zappify is valued as the best and easy to use portable bug zapper that you can use anywhere conveniently.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR ZAPPIFY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    What Are The Unique Characteristics of Zappify (Zappify Reviews)

    • 30 m² 360° Coverage Zone: Zappify’s refined cylindrical design projects its electrified grid in a full 360° arc, creating an insect‐free perimeter up to 30 square meters—three times the range of its first model. Internally, the device holds optimally spaced stainless‐steel electrodes that support uniform voltage across the entire surface. This guarantees that any mosquito entering the marked zone is attracted and neutralized, whether the unit sits on a tabletop corner or in the center of your balcony.
    • 13-Hour Rechargeable Battery Pack: Fundamentally, Zappify contains a high‐capacity lithium‐ion battery that lasts for 13 hours of continuous operation. The battery cells are installed in a rugged, IPX5‐rated housing to withstand outdoor moisture, while an improved charging circuit regulates current for safe, effective recharges via USB-C. This extended autonomy lets you utilize the unit overnight or throughout day long outdoor activities.
    • 2,000-Volt Electric Elimination Grid: Zappify’s advanced zapper grid provided a high‐voltage pulse of 2,000 volts, over three times the power of the earlier generation, through its corrosion‐resistant electrodes. The grid’s mesh spacing is accurately calibrated to admit even the smallest mosquitoes while eliminating accidental contact by fingers or pets. When an insect enters the space, the intense discharge instantly terminates it, converting electrical energy into a quick, clean arc.
    • Portable and Compact: Zappify is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you wherever you go. It easily fits in your bag, as you head out this summer. You can use it at the park, patio, ball game, or wherever you want for maximum mosquito relief. It’s perfect for any activities you don’t want mosquitoes to ruin!
    • Three-Band UV Light Attraction System: Replacing the single‐wavelength bulb of its predecessor, Zappify uses a tri‐band UV lamp that emits three distinct ultraviolet frequencies proven to attract a broader spectrum of mosquito species. Each band is tuned to specific insect photoreceptors, optimizing attraction efficacy by up to 300%. Enclosed within a secured quartz sleeve, the UV modules are rated for long-term stability, ensuring consistent output over hundreds of work hours.
    • Integrated 12-LED Ultra-Bright Lantern: Beyond its bug‐zapping capabilities, Zappify has an array of 12 high-intensity LEDs around its base, serving as a multi-purpose lantern. Each LED is selected for enhanced luminosity and energy efficiency, delivering ambient illumination for campsites, balconies, or interior spaces. The LEDs are calibrated with the unit’s power management system to draw minimal current, ensuring the lighting feature can run concurrently impacting overall battery life.
    • Precision Battery Life Indicator: To keep users informed, Zappify features a digital battery‐life indicator panel installed in it. Three LED segments display the remaining charge in real time, and a single button press provides an instant status update. The indicator circuit blends with the device’s charge controller to adapt to any temperature and load, providing a precise estimate of remaining operational time, removing any guesswork, and ensuring you know accurately when to recharge.
    • Weatherproof: Zappify has an IPX5 waterproof rating that makes it compatible with outdoor use. The anti-bug lamp is designed to withstand weather conditions, including rain, intense heat, wind, and extreme weather. As a result, it can function appropriately in outdoor environments without being damaged. Moreover, it’s durable and practical as it can work in damp conditions. In addition, it’s convenient as it doesn’t require additional protection or maintenance.
    • Noiseless Operation: Zappify’s noteworthy and defining feature is its ability to operate quietly. In contrast to other portable gadgets of its sort, the Zappify runs silently, which is great because it means you won’t have to put up with excessive noise.
    • Chemicals-free: The Zappify sets itself apart from traditional insecticides and mosquito zappers, which include a number of chemicals or other substances that are exceedingly dangerous to human health. Zappify 2.0 kills insects without the use of harmful chemicals. It is a third-generation device that attracts and zaps insects or pests using UV light energy.
    • Handy Hanging Loop: Zappify comes with a handy hanging loop that makes it easy to hang anywhere you need it. You can hang it in your backyard, on your patio, or even in your tent. It is an ideal camping or outdoor accessory for any summer adventure.

    Does Zappify Really Work? (Zappify Reviews)

    Zappify works on a straightforward yet highly effective principle by employing a potent blend of UV light and a 2,000-volt electrified grid to draw in and eliminate mosquitoes and bugs within a 30 square meters range. Unlike chemical sprays or sticky traps, Zappify 2.0 doesn’t emit toxins or odors, instead relying on UV wavelengths that insects instinctively can’t resist.

    The official Zappify website revealed that the cylindrical build ensures a full 360° attraction field, while the sturdy electric discharge prompt zaps any bug that makes contact. In lab-style tests and controlled demonstrations, this synergy of attraction and high-voltage power consistently kills mosquitoes massively in minutes, creating a “dead zone” of mosquito-free space indoors or outdoors.

    Beyond the technical power, real-world users completely confirm Zappify’s performance. Every review unequivocally agrees that Zappify 2.0 works perfectly well. The Zappify’s combination of chemical-free operation, extended 13-hour battery life, and sturdy safety grills makes it one of the most dependable and intuitive mosquito killers on the market.

    Finally, Zappify has been very much well-received by customers, with 5-star ratings from overwhelming positive reviews praising its exceptional efficacy and performance, Zappify has quickly gained a reputation as a must-have tool for mosquito and bug control in the United States and Canada. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty, it’s a low-risk remedy that changes evenings from itchy frustration into peaceful, bite-free enjoyment.

    Why Should You Buy Zappify?

    Zappify isn’t just another bug zapper, it’s a versatile, chemical-free defense system crafted to secure your home and protect you and your loved ones from disease-carrying mosquitoes. Its plush, cylindrical design releases distinct UV wavelengths that lure mosquitoes and funnel them into a 2,000-volt electrified grid that zaps pests promptly and humanely.

    Zappify covers up to 30 m², using its powerful UV light and extra 12-LED camping light to lure insects from all sides, while also providing soft, ambient illumination for evening use. Fueled by a single USB-C top-off that powers you for up to 13 hours, it is clear digital meter helps you schedule recharges in advance, so you can regulate multi-day adventures without worrying about running low.

    Beyond maximum performance, Zappify offers unmatched versatility and security. It’s IPX5 waterproofed for reliable outdoor use, compact and lightweight for easy transport, and comes with a handy carabiner handle so you can hang it wherever mosquitoes gather.

    Zappify is 100% safe around children and pets, making it the best choice for families, campers, and professionals alike. As new, deadly mosquito species expand their range and global mosquito-borne diseases rise, Zappify stands out as a scientifically proven, user-friendly solution that works discreetly in the background, equipping you to enjoy your evenings.

    Many reviewers confirm that Zappify distinguishes itself from other mosquito control solutions by offering comprehensive features and benefits in the United States Of America. Zappify ticks all the boxes and as such it is reliable, legit, rechargable, weatherproof and very user-friendly. Many customers categorically agree that Zappify 2.0 is the most advanced yet user friendly bug zapper available on the market today.

    What Are The Beautiful Benefits That Come With Using Zappify (Zappify Reviews)

    • 100% Chemical-Free Family Protection: Zappify works without emitting DEET or any toxic repellents, guaranteeing your safety and ensuring that every zap is purely electrical. This chemical-free method makes it safe for the children’s rooms or next to your outdoor dinner spot without worrying about skin irritation or inhalation hazards.

    According to environmentalist J. Duffy, “I trust Zappify 2.0 to keep my family bite-free. It’s cost-friendly, easy to use, and KILLS A TON of mosquitoes.” His experience underlines how Zappify provides potent mosquito control without exposing loved ones to toxic substances, changing any space into a safe, toxin-free zone for play, sleep, and family gatherings.

    • Expansive 30 m² Coverage for Complete Peace: With its sturdy predecessor, Zappify generates a mosquito “dead zone” spanning up to 30 square meters. You no longer need many devices to safeguard your backyard or large living room; one unit delivers the required results.

    Backyard enthusiast Daniel Klein raved, “Zapped ALL of the bugs in my backyard! … Being able to sit outside at night was just awesome.” His backyard-wide mosquito eradication indicates that Zappify doesn’t solely minimize nuisance; it eliminates buzzing intruders across wide areas, giving you undisturbed evening barbecues, hangouts, or living-room relaxation.

    • Long-lasting, Portable Power for All-Day Protection: Providing up to 13 hours of continuous operation from sunset into the night or across a full day of campsite fun. It’s rechargeable via USB-C, and the installed battery indicator enables easy monitoring of the power levels.

    As reviewer Marcus confirms, “Holds a charge through the night while I sleep soundly! Not a bite on me in the morning.” Whether you’re camping, hosting an outdoor party, or simply seeking undisrupted rest, Zappify’s endurance guarantees you remain bite-free around the clock.

    • Ultra-Effective 3-Band UV Attraction for Maximum Capture: Zappify’s proprietary three-wavelength UV lamp is synchronized to insect vision, luring in mosquitoes more powerfully than single-band lights. This innovation transforms your device into a magnet for every stray mosquito in the vicinity—no more blind spots.

    Paul Connors attests, “I placed it next to my bed … the device easily attracted a ton of mosquitoes and other insects.” His success story indicates that Zappify doesn’t lean on guesswork; its scientifically tuned light spectrum ensures every mosquito within range is exterminated.

    • Quiet, Discreet Operation for Restful Nights: Unlike conventional zappers that crackle loudly, Zappify keeps a low “buzz-zap” whisper that doesn’t interrupt your sleep or conversation. The sound is so discreet that once mosquitoes vanish, you barely notice the device.

    Peter Bridges notes, “This mosquito killer works … I saw a bug flying in my room and the zapper lured it into the bag and zapped it.” His comment suggested how Zappify’s silent performance interacts with your environment, providing mosquito extermination without the soundtrack of electrical arcs.

    • Great for Indoor and Outdoor Use: Zappify’s versatile design makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening indoors or spending time in the backyard, Zappify adapts to various environments, offering consistent mosquito protection.
    • Environmentally Friendly: By eliminating the need for toxic chemicals and offering a USB-rechargeable battery, Zappify contributes to environmental sustainability. Users can enjoy effective mosquito control without compromising on eco-friendliness.
    • Durable Construction for Long-Term Use: Crafted from high-quality and durable materials, Zappify is designed for long-term use. Its robust construction ensures that the device maintains its effectiveness over time, providing reliable mosquito control for an extended period.
    • Versatile for Different Occasions: Zappify enhances outdoor enjoyment by creating a mosquito-free environment. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, camping under the stars, or simply relaxing in the backyard, Zappify ensures that mosquitoes don’t disrupt your outdoor activities, allowing you to make the most of your time spent outdoors.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR ZAPPIFY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Why Is Zappify Better Than Other Products in the Market?

    Most mosquito zappers on the market rely on a single UV wavelength and a modest electric grid, leaving large swaths of your outdoor or indoor space open to mosquito infestation. Zappify breaks these limitations with a three-band UV light. This process creates a mosquito-free zone covering up to 30 m², three times the range of many competitors.

    Moreso, its cylindrical, 360° design lures insects from all angles rather than just one direction. Coupled with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 13 hours, far beyond most rival units, this level of performance ensures consistent, dependable protection through the night without plugging into an outlet.

    Zappify is impressively user-friendly and suitable for people from all backgrounds. It’s designed to be easy to use right out of the box making it an environmentally friendly way to eliminate mosquitoes and other flying insects. Zappify reviews have a consumer reports average rating of 9.10/10.0 for how well it eliminates bugs and mosquitoes, its affordability, and how swift it is to purchase in the USA and Canada.

    All reviewers revealed that this upgraded Zappify stands out among others as the safest and most reliable option due to its unique combination of features that prioritize both effectiveness and safety. Unlike many competing products, Zappify boasts a 100% non-toxic design, making it completely safe for use around children and pets. This distinguishes it as a family-friendly solution for mosquito control, providing peace of mind to users concerned about the potential risks associated with chemical-based alternatives.

    Finally, its installed LED camping lantern and an IPX5 waterproof rating guarantee good illumination and protection for your campsite in any weather. With a handy carabiner for safe positioning, USB-C recharging for universal compatibility, and easy-clean mesh screens, Zappify emerges as a professional-grade mosquito control system engineered for casual users and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.

    How Do You Use Zappify? (Zappify Reviews)

    Deploying your Zappify is as simple as charging, positioning, and powering on—here’s how to turn on your 360° mosquito shield in just a few steps:

    • Charge & Check: Plug the USB-C cable into Zappify’s port and charge until the digital battery-life indicator reads full (up to 13 hours of runtime).
    • Choose & Place: Decide whether you need indoor or outdoor protection, then either hang the cylinder by its carabiner or set it on a flat surface at the center of your seating area—each unit covers a 30 m² “dead zone.”
    • Activate the Lights: Press the power button to ignite the three-band UV lamps and 12 ultra-bright LEDs. The multi-wavelength spectrum will begin drawing in mosquitoes from every angle.
    • Zap: As insects approach, they’ll fly into the electrified 2,000-volt grid and be exterminated.
    • Monitor & Maintain: Watch the battery readout; when it runs low, recharge for your next outing. After use, simply brush out the collection tray for easy cleanup.

    Is Zappify Really Worth My Money? (Zappify Reviews)

    When you weigh Zappify’s upfront cost against potential expenses and risks of using conventional mosquito control chemical sprays, replacement coils, or bite-soothing treatments the value proposition becomes clear. A single charge and you are protected for up to 13 hours across a 30 m² radius. By eliminating the need for DEET-based lotions or indoor foggers, Zappify keeps your family from toxic exposure.

    Beyond pure economics, Zappify provides premium functionality that justifies every penny spent. Zappify is an upgraded and advanced bug zapper making it one of the best, if not the absolute best, bug zapper out there on the market and here is why we say so. Zappify comes with three times as many wavelengths to capture bugs, 12 LED Ultra-Bright Camping Light that attracts more bugs and lights your surroundings, three times the killing range and extended battery life.

    In fact all reviewers categorically agree that Zappify is superior to all other conventional bug zappers out there on the market for its powerful rechargeable battery features, multi-function design, more bug killing power, and futuristic zapper design. When viewed in the context of its effectiveness, versatility, and durability, the Zappify comes off as a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking a permanent solution to their bug-related woes.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR ZAPPIFY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Pros – Zappify Reviews

    • Zappify is compact and portable
    • Provides you with powerful mosquito killing power
    • Multipurpose functionality as a mosquito zapper and a lantern
    • Long-lasting USB rechargeable battery
    • Comes with a handy hanging loop that makes it even more convenient to use
    • Features 3 brightness features
    • It is water resistant
    • Zappify 2.0 does not contain any harmful chemicals or substance
    • Zappify 2.0 has a lightweight and hangable design
    • It is very easy to use
    • High efficiency
    • Comes with a special introductory 50% OFF discount if you order now from the main site!
    • Quick delivery
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
    • Zappify is a futuristic zapper that works to clear your area of mosquitoes fast.
    • Zappify is designed to deliver an effective 360° anti-mosquito shield that will rid you of annoying, biting insects once and for all.

    Cons (Zappify Reviews)

    • Zappify 2.0 is not available for purchase on local stores and third party eCommerce sites like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and the likes of them.
    • Zappify 2.0 can only be purchased online from the product’s official website alone
    • Shipping fees may apply
    • Zappify has the tendency to sell out fast again

    Is Zappify a Scam or Legit?

    Zappify is a genuine, FDA-compliant mosquito zapper produced by Sapience Group LLC, a New Jersey-based company with a clear corporate address and powerful DMCA protection. With over 231,421 verified ratings and social-proof testimonials from real users including farmers, campers, and suburban families, Zappify has shown a consistent ability to exterminate mosquitoes across diverse environments.

    Based on honest Zappify customer reviews, Zappify is 100% legit and reliable for ultimate performance. As per consumer reports, the Zappify has 4.95 -star impressive ratings given by the customers of Canada & USA which also mean it is one of the most reliable and dependable mosquito zapper available in the market.

    That said, legitimacy hinges on buying through the official Zappify website to ensure you receive the authentic, chemical-free unit with full warranty protection. Ultimately, Zappify is a legitimate solution for mosquito and bug control, provided you order from authorized channels, take advantage of the money-back guarantee, and follow the simple setup instructions for optimal effectiveness.

    How Much Does Zappify Cost?

    Zappify is currently selling at incredibly affordable prices, with flexible bundle options tailored for every need and budget:

    • Buy one Zappify 2.0 for $39.99
    • 2x Zappify 2.0 – $39.99 each (50% off)
    • 3x Zappify 2.0 – $29.99 each (62% off)
    • 4x Zappify 2.0 – $29.99 each (62% off)

    These discounted bundles are ideal for home use, travel, or as intentional gifts. With up to 62% savings, it’s a smart and affordable investment in a fly-free, comfortable living space. Seize this limited-time pricing opportunity before it sells out!

    Zappify Where To Buy? (Zappify Reviews)

    Zappify is widely available through trusted online platforms, making it easy and convenient to purchase from the comfort of your home. However, the best place to buy Zappify is directly from the official website, where you can take advantage of exclusive deals, bundle discounts, and special promotions that may not be available elsewhere.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR ZAPPIFY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Zappify Consumer Reports And Customers Complaints Reviewed

    Claude T.
    “I used Zappify in my tent when I was camping, and it worked perfectly. The mosquitoes were flying directly to the light and they got zapped. Easy to charge and the perfect size to carry around.”

    Randy R.
    “Easy to use, easy to clean, and it kills mosquitoes fast! It’s just about the best camping accessory you’ll find. Perfect for the outdoors.”

    Luka T.
    “Just recently bought this Zappify zapper after reading all the reviews. I definitely recommend it to future buyers that this little gizmo really works. I saw a bug flying in my room which I can’t catch and I turned on the Zappify 2.0 & it worked to lure the bug and zap it.”

    Greg H.
    “Zappify 2.0 works as described!! Placed it next to my bed over for a few nights, and the device miraculously attracted a decent amount of mosquitoes and even other insects. It also comes with a small handy brush which makes cleaning up very easy and fuss-free.”

    Frequently Asked Questions About Zappify 2.0 Reviewed

    How does Zappify 2.0 work?

    Zappify employs a three-band UV light to attract mosquitoes and flying insects from up to 30 m² away. Once lured in, they contact a 2,000-volt electrified grid that instantly zaps them—no chemicals, sprays, or traps needed.

    Does Zappify require a wall outlet for power?

    Absolutely not. Zappify 2.0 operates on a rechargeable battery and comes with a USB connection for charging. You do not need to have it plugged in to use it, which is the idea behind the battery being rechargeable.

    Can I use Zappify around my kids and pets?

    Absolutely, Zappify is safe to use around kids and pets! This Zappify mosquito repellant does not contain DEET or any harmful chemicals. So it is absolutely safe for kids and pets. For your health and that of your loved ones, cease using harmful chemicals on your home in the name of eliminating mosquitoes. Opt for this 100% safe to use modern zapper, that kills mosquitoes dead without any toxic substance.

    What are some tips to maximize the effectiveness of my Zappify?

    Well, according to the providers of the Zappify , to maximize the effectiveness, you must position your Zappify 2.0 in your desired location and let it run for at least two hours before using the place. This is to totally clear the area of mosquitoes prior to your presence there. In addition to that, ensure you minimize ambient light around the device so that the Zappify 2.0’s LED lights can effectively attract mosquitoes without having to compete with other light sources that may decrease its effectiveness.

    Is Zappify easy to use?

    Zappify is completely user-friendly! You do not need to be tech-savvy to use Zappify. Simply remove your Zappify 2.0 from its packaging and charge it with the included USB cord, and that is all. You can place the Zappify 2.0 upright or hang it. Then turn it on and watch as it zaps all the mosquitoes in your territory.

    Can I use Zappify indoor?

    Absolutely! Zappify is safe for both indoor and outdoor use. It is safe to use in various rooms and settings including bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces like camping grounds and gardens.

    How do I clean my Zappify?

    Cleaning Zappify is very simple and easy. Ensure that your Zappify is unplugged, then remove the removable tray or grid, dispose of the zapped mosquitoes and insects, and clean the tray with a soft brush or cloth. Your Zappify package comes with a user manual for specific cleaning guidelines.

    Does Zappify make a lot of noise?

    No, not at all. Zappify does not cause any racket. It is designed to operate quietly. The electric grid produces a minimal sound when insects are zapped, ensuring a peaceful environment for both indoor and outdoor use.

    Final Remarks On Zappify Reviews

    Zappify represents a breakthrough in mosquito control, it integrates refined UV-attraction technology with a high-voltage electric grid, completely chemical-free. Its 360° cylindrical engineering and three-band UV lamps work in harmony to draw in and exterminate insects across a generous 30 m² radius, so you can enjoy your indoor and outdoor spaces without having to depend on toxic sprays or messy traps.

    Moreover, Zappify 2.0 promotes convenience and safety. Experience up to 13 hours of uninterrupted use from a single USB-C charge ideal for twilight get-togethers or overnight adventures and is placed with its intuitive power-status display so you’re always in supervision. The IPX5 water-resistant casing and enclosed zapper grid mean you can hang it outdoors or near children and pets without health hazards. Cleaning is seamless, thanks to a removable collection tray and included brush.

    In all, Zappify is an indispensable breakthrough in mosquito eradication systems. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, settling into a bedroom for the night, or pitching a tent on your next camping trip, Zappify provides an instant “dead zone” against disease-carrying pests. With its 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no risk: if it doesn’t live up to its claims, you’ll get your money back stress-free.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR ZAPPIFY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Media Contact:
    Name: Emily Carson
    Company: Zappify
    Address: 78 John Miller Way, Kearny, New Jersey 07032
    Email: emily@myzappify.com
    Phone: +1 (888) 452-9983
    Website: https://www.myzappify.com

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd18cbb3-1e7a-4fae-8eaa-d653a8eed80d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb0473c6-53d4-463f-afbb-5ab504eadd71

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c3f6326-6982-4480-a10a-cfaef25b23e2

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    Last week the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

    The highly infectious virus was found in two healthy, polio-vaccinated children who were screened following detection of the virus during routine wastewater sampling in Lae, PNG’s second largest city. Wastewater samples are also positive in the capital Port Moresby, indicating the potential of spread around the country.

    The strain has been identified as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, similar genetically to a strain circulating in Indonesia.

    So what does this mean? And what will happen now in PNG?

    First, what is polio?

    Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children.

    Most infections don’t cause significant symptoms and go largely unnoticed. But less than 1% of infections result in paralysis.

    Poliovirus is spread by person-to-person contact or the ingestion of contaminated virus from faeces. The virus multiplies in the gut of people who are infected, and they shed the virus in their stool for several weeks. In this way it can spread through a community, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

    A recent review also suggested a greater role for transmission via respiratory particles than we previously thought.

    Wild poliovirus (as distinct from vaccine-derived poliovirus, which we’ll discuss shortly) was a major public health issue prior to the rollout of vaccination in 1950s. This campaign led to the virtual elimination of the disease in rich countries such as Australia.

    Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, cases have decreased by 99% globally. Wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Polio is caused by the poliovirus.
    Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

    Polio vaccines

    There are two types of vaccines – the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine.

    Delivered as two drops in the mouth at least four times in early childhood, the oral vaccine contains a live-attenuated (weakened) form of the poliovirus. It triggers a strong immune reaction in the gut that slows the replication of wild poliovirus, and reduces shedding in the stool, limiting transmission.

    The oral vaccine does carry a small risk of the weakened vaccine strain causing paralysis. This occurs in
    roughly one in 2.7 million doses of the oral vaccine administered, usually at the first dose.

    The inactivated polio vaccine (part of the routine immunisation program in Australia) contains an inactivated or dead form of the poliovirus, which is unable to cause polio in the recipient.

    Given as an injection, this vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies in the blood against poliovirus. Three doses of the inactivated vaccine are highly protective against developing symptoms and paralysis from polio.

    However, this vaccine is thought not to be as effective as the oral vaccine at preventing infection and shedding in the gut. Therefore, it doesn’t prevent transmission.

    What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?

    As the weakened poliovirus in the oral vaccine is still shed in the stool, it can spread in communities with poor sanitation. The vaccine strain can mutate to a form that can cause paralysis, like wild poliovirus. The result, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, is a problem particularly when polio immunisation rates are low.

    The risk of international spread of vaccine-derived poliovirus has been assessed as high by the WHO and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were outbreaks in 39 countries in 2023–24.

    A novel oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, which is less likely to mutate, has been used in outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus since 2021.

    Routine vaccination with the inactivated polio vaccine is key to preventing vaccine-derived poliovirus, and is recommended by WHO. The polio endgame will involve this transition from the oral vaccine to the inactivated vaccine.

    In 2019, all countries had introduced the inactivated vaccine. However uptake remains low because of a lack of resources and inadequate access to health services in poor countries.

    What happens now in PNG?

    The PNG government has responded swiftly to activate its polio emergency response plan, supported by partners including WHO, UNICEF and the Australian government.

    Notably, PNG’s vaccination rate is among the lowest in the world, with only about 50% of children born each year receiving the recommended childhood vaccines, including the oral polio vaccine. To induce herd immunity and prevent outbreaks of disease, coverage should be at least 95%.

    PNG was declared polio free in 2000. But there was an outbreak in 2018 of vaccine-derived polio type 1 with 26 cases across nine provinces. The outbreak was brought under control through supplementary rounds of vaccination, enhanced surveillance, and expanded communication and community engagement.

    There are many lessons to be learned from the successful response to the 2018 polio outbreak. These three pillars of the response remain relevant:

    • mass vaccination (using nOPV2)
    • enhanced surveillance for cases and wastewater sampling
    • communication (through traditional and social media) and localised community engagement.

    Further research will be crucial to understand where transmission is occurring and target the response accordingly. This includes the question of potential for spread between Indonesia and PNG – a neglected health security issue.

    How about the risk in Australia?

    While the risk of spread of polio in Australia is low, the virus does not respect borders, and we cannot become complacent.

    Australia’s overall coverage with the inactivated vaccine is close to 95% but there has been a concerning decline in childhood immunisation since the COVID pandemic. Australia must address this and maintain its polio wastewater monitoring system.

    Supporting PNG and working with other countries towards global polio eradication is the best way Australia can protect itself.

    This outbreak is a timely reminder that the last mile in the global eradication of polio remains elusive. As we emerge from a pandemic, the need for international cooperation, strengthening health systems and responding swiftly to health emergencies such as polio couldn’t be stronger.

    Michael Toole has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Suman Majumdar, through the Burnet Institute receives grant funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Government via the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, the Medical Research Future Fund and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Fredrick Charles does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive – https://theconversation.com/the-re-emergence-of-polio-in-papua-new-guinea-shows-global-eradication-remains-elusive-256899

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    Last week the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

    The highly infectious virus was found in two healthy, polio-vaccinated children who were screened following detection of the virus during routine wastewater sampling in Lae, PNG’s second largest city. Wastewater samples are also positive in the capital Port Moresby, indicating the potential of spread around the country.

    The strain has been identified as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, similar genetically to a strain circulating in Indonesia.

    So what does this mean? And what will happen now in PNG?

    First, what is polio?

    Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children.

    Most infections don’t cause significant symptoms and go largely unnoticed. But less than 1% of infections result in paralysis.

    Poliovirus is spread by person-to-person contact or the ingestion of contaminated virus from faeces. The virus multiplies in the gut of people who are infected, and they shed the virus in their stool for several weeks. In this way it can spread through a community, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

    A recent review also suggested a greater role for transmission via respiratory particles than we previously thought.

    Wild poliovirus (as distinct from vaccine-derived poliovirus, which we’ll discuss shortly) was a major public health issue prior to the rollout of vaccination in 1950s. This campaign led to the virtual elimination of the disease in rich countries such as Australia.

    Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, cases have decreased by 99% globally. Wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Polio is caused by the poliovirus.
    Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

    Polio vaccines

    There are two types of vaccines – the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine.

    Delivered as two drops in the mouth at least four times in early childhood, the oral vaccine contains a live-attenuated (weakened) form of the poliovirus. It triggers a strong immune reaction in the gut that slows the replication of wild poliovirus, and reduces shedding in the stool, limiting transmission.

    The oral vaccine does carry a small risk of the weakened vaccine strain causing paralysis. This occurs in
    roughly one in 2.7 million doses of the oral vaccine administered, usually at the first dose.

    The inactivated polio vaccine (part of the routine immunisation program in Australia) contains an inactivated or dead form of the poliovirus, which is unable to cause polio in the recipient.

    Given as an injection, this vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies in the blood against poliovirus. Three doses of the inactivated vaccine are highly protective against developing symptoms and paralysis from polio.

    However, this vaccine is thought not to be as effective as the oral vaccine at preventing infection and shedding in the gut. Therefore, it doesn’t prevent transmission.

    What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?

    As the weakened poliovirus in the oral vaccine is still shed in the stool, it can spread in communities with poor sanitation. The vaccine strain can mutate to a form that can cause paralysis, like wild poliovirus. The result, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, is a problem particularly when polio immunisation rates are low.

    The risk of international spread of vaccine-derived poliovirus has been assessed as high by the WHO and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were outbreaks in 39 countries in 2023–24.

    A novel oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, which is less likely to mutate, has been used in outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus since 2021.

    Routine vaccination with the inactivated polio vaccine is key to preventing vaccine-derived poliovirus, and is recommended by WHO. The polio endgame will involve this transition from the oral vaccine to the inactivated vaccine.

    In 2019, all countries had introduced the inactivated vaccine. However uptake remains low because of a lack of resources and inadequate access to health services in poor countries.

    What happens now in PNG?

    The PNG government has responded swiftly to activate its polio emergency response plan, supported by partners including WHO, UNICEF and the Australian government.

    Notably, PNG’s vaccination rate is among the lowest in the world, with only about 50% of children born each year receiving the recommended childhood vaccines, including the oral polio vaccine. To induce herd immunity and prevent outbreaks of disease, coverage should be at least 95%.

    PNG was declared polio free in 2000. But there was an outbreak in 2018 of vaccine-derived polio type 1 with 26 cases across nine provinces. The outbreak was brought under control through supplementary rounds of vaccination, enhanced surveillance, and expanded communication and community engagement.

    There are many lessons to be learned from the successful response to the 2018 polio outbreak. These three pillars of the response remain relevant:

    • mass vaccination (using nOPV2)
    • enhanced surveillance for cases and wastewater sampling
    • communication (through traditional and social media) and localised community engagement.

    Further research will be crucial to understand where transmission is occurring and target the response accordingly. This includes the question of potential for spread between Indonesia and PNG – a neglected health security issue.

    How about the risk in Australia?

    While the risk of spread of polio in Australia is low, the virus does not respect borders, and we cannot become complacent.

    Australia’s overall coverage with the inactivated vaccine is close to 95% but there has been a concerning decline in childhood immunisation since the COVID pandemic. Australia must address this and maintain its polio wastewater monitoring system.

    Supporting PNG and working with other countries towards global polio eradication is the best way Australia can protect itself.

    This outbreak is a timely reminder that the last mile in the global eradication of polio remains elusive. As we emerge from a pandemic, the need for international cooperation, strengthening health systems and responding swiftly to health emergencies such as polio couldn’t be stronger.

    Michael Toole has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Suman Majumdar, through the Burnet Institute receives grant funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Government via the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, the Medical Research Future Fund and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Fredrick Charles does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive – https://theconversation.com/the-re-emergence-of-polio-in-papua-new-guinea-shows-global-eradication-remains-elusive-256899

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: When Climate Redefines Health

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Research indicates that 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change and, by 2050, the climate crisis could cause $1.1 trillion in extra costs to healthcare systems around the globe.

    How is the resilience of key sectors to climate change being measured and how are key actors responding to safeguard public health?

    This is the full audio of a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting on 23 January, 2025. Watch it here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/where-climate-collides-with-health/

    Speakers:

    John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

    Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer, Moderna

    John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive Officer, Wellcome Trust

    Liza Korsten, President, African Academy of Sciences

    Shyam Bishen, Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum

    David Knibbe, Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer, NN Group

    Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

     

    Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts (http://wef.ch/podcasts) : 

    YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts) – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

    Radio Davos (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1504682164) : https://pod.link/1504682164

    Meet the Leader (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1534915560) : https://pod.link/1534915560

    Agenda Dialogues (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1574956552) : https://pod.link/1574956552

    Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PolcY-iGqaU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Announces DGX Cloud Lepton to Connect Developers to NVIDIA’s Global Compute Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • CoreWeave, Crusoe, Firmus, Foxconn, GMI Cloud, Lambda, Nebius Nscale, SoftBank Corp. and Yotta Data Services to Bring Tens of Thousands of GPUs to DGX Cloud Lepton Marketplace
    • NVIDIA Exemplar Clouds Raise the Performance Bar for NVIDIA Cloud Partners

    TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COMPUTEX — NVIDIA today announced NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ — an AI platform with a compute marketplace that connects the world’s developers building agentic and physical AI applications with tens of thousands of GPUs, available from a global network of cloud providers.

    To meet the demand for AI, NVIDIA Cloud Partners (NCPs) including CoreWeave, Crusoe, Firmus, Foxconn, GMI Cloud, Lambda, Nebius, Nscale, Softbank Corp. and Yotta Data Services will offer NVIDIA Blackwell and other NVIDIA architecture GPUs on the DGX Cloud Lepton marketplace.

    Developers can tap into GPU compute capacity in specific regions for both on-demand and long-term computing, supporting strategic and sovereign AI operational requirements. Leading cloud service providers and GPU marketplaces are expected to also participate in the DGX Cloud Lepton marketplace.

    “NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton connects our network of global GPU cloud providers with AI developers,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with our NCPs, we’re building a planetary-scale AI factory.”

    DGX Cloud Lepton helps address the critical challenge of securing reliable, high-performance GPU resources by unifying access to cloud AI services and GPU capacity across the NVIDIA compute ecosystem. The platform integrates with the NVIDIA software stack, including NVIDIA NIM™ and NeMo™ microservices, NVIDIA Blueprints and NVIDIA Cloud Functions, to accelerate and simplify the development and deployment of AI applications.

    For cloud providers, DGX Cloud Lepton provides management software that delivers real-time GPU health diagnostics and automates root-cause analysis, eliminating manual operations and reducing downtime.

    Key benefits of the platform include:

    • Improved productivity and flexibility: Offers a unified experience across development, training and inference, helping boost productivity. Developers can purchase GPU capacity directly from participating cloud providers through the marketplace or bring their own compute clusters, giving them greater flexibility and control.
    • Frictionless deployment: Enables deployment of AI applications across multi-cloud and hybrid environments with minimal operational burden, using integrated services for inference, testing and training workloads.
    • Agility and sovereignty: Gives developers quick access to GPU resources in specific regions, enabling compliance with data sovereignty regulations and meeting low-latency requirements for sensitive workloads.
    • Predictable performance: Provides participating cloud providers enterprise-grade performance, reliability and security, ensuring a consistent user experience.

    A New Bar for AI Cloud Performance
    NVIDIA today also announced NVIDIA Exemplar Clouds to help NCPs enhance security, usability, performance and resiliency, using NVIDIA’s expertise, reference hardware and software and operational tools.

    NVIDIA Exemplar Clouds tap into NVIDIA DGX™ Cloud Benchmarking, a comprehensive suite of tools and recipes for optimizing workload performance on AI platforms and quantifying the relationship between cost and performance.

    Yotta Data Services is the first NCP in the Asia-Pacific region to join the NVIDIA Exemplar Cloud initiative.

    Availability
    Developers can sign up for early access to NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton.

    Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from Huang and learn more at NVIDIA GTC Taipei.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Natalie Hereth
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-360-581-1088
    nhereth@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, performance and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services; NVIDIA’s collaborations with third parties and the benefits and impact thereof; third parties using or adopting our products and technologies, the benefits and impact thereof; together with cloud partners, NVIDIA building a virtual global AI factory and additional regional cloud providers being added to the marketplace in the coming months are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX, DGX Cloud Lepton, NeMo and NVIDIA NIM are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Powers World’s Largest Quantum Research Supercomputer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COMPUTEX — NVIDIA today announced the opening of the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT), which hosts ABCI-Q — the world’s largest research supercomputer dedicated to quantum computing.

    Quantum processors promise to augment AI supercomputers in solving some of the world’s most complex challenges, spanning industries including healthcare, energy and finance. By enabling quantum-GPU computing at an unprecedented scale, ABCI-Q marks a profound leap toward realizing practical, accelerated quantum systems.

    Delivered by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the ABCI-Q supercomputer features 2,020 NVIDIA H100 GPUs interconnected by the NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking platform.

    The system is integrated with NVIDIA CUDA-Q™, an open-source hybrid computing platform for orchestrating the hardware and software needed to run useful, massive-scale quantum computing applications.

    “Seamlessly coupling quantum hardware with AI supercomputing will accelerate realizing the promise of quantum computing for all,” said Tim Costa, senior director of computer-aided engineering, quantum and CUDA-X™ at NVIDIA. “NVIDIA’s collaboration with AIST will catalyze progress in areas like quantum error correction and applications development — crucial for building useful, accelerated quantum supercomputers.”

    ABCI-Q’s AI supercomputing is integrated with a superconducting qubit processor by Fujitsu, a neutral atom quantum processor by QuEra and a photonic processor by OptQC — enabling hybrid quantum-GPU workloads across multiple qubit modalities.

    “ABCI-Q will enable researchers in Japan to explore the core challenges quantum computing technologies face and speed the path to practical use cases,” said Masahiro Horibe, deputy director of G-QuAT and AIST. “The NVIDIA accelerated computing platform in ABCI-Q will empower scientists to experiment with the stepping-stone systems needed to advance quantum computing.”

    Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, and learn more at NVIDIA GTC Taipei.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Alex Shapiro
    NVIDIA Public Relations
    1-415-608-5044
    ashapiro@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, availability, and performance of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; NVIDIA’s collaborations with third parties and the impact and benefits thereof; ABCI-Q enabling researchers in Japan to explore the core challenges quantum computing technologies face and speed the path to practical use cases; the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform in ABCI-Q empowering scientists to experiment with the stepping-stone systems needed to advance quantum computing are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, CUDA-Q and CUDA-X are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/222a8e38-128b-40ab-b90a-be59593eb585

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Launches AI-First DGX Personal Computing Systems With Global Computer Makers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COMPUTEX — NVIDIA today announced that Taiwan’s leading system manufacturers are set to build NVIDIA DGX Spark and DGX Station™ systems.

    Growing partnerships with Acer, GIGABYTE and MSI will extend the availability of DGX Spark and DGX Station personal AI supercomputers — empowering a global ecosystem of developers, data scientists and researchers with unprecedented performance and efficiency.

    Enterprises, software providers, government agencies, startups and research institutions need robust systems that can deliver the performance and capabilities of an AI server in a desktop form factor without compromising data size, proprietary model privacy or the speed of scalability.

    The rise of agentic AI systems capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution amplifies these demands. Powered by the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform, DGX Spark and DGX Station will enable developers to prototype, fine-tune and inference models from the desktop to the data center.

    “AI has revolutionized every layer of the computing stack — from silicon to software,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Direct descendants of the DGX-1 system that ignited the AI revolution, DGX Spark and DGX Station are created from the ground up to power the next generation of AI research and development.”

    DGX Spark Fuels Innovation
    DGX Spark is equipped with the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip and fifth-generation Tensor Cores. It delivers up to 1 petaflop of AI compute and 128GB of unified memory, and enables seamless exporting of models to NVIDIA DGX™ Cloud or any accelerated cloud or data center infrastructure.

    Delivering powerful performance and capabilities in a compact package, DGX Spark lets developers, researchers, data scientists and students push the boundaries of generative AI and accelerate workloads across industries.

    DGX Station Advances AI Innovation
    Built for the most demanding AI workloads, DGX Station features the NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, which offers up to 20 petaflops of AI performance and 784GB of unified system memory. The system also includes the NVIDIA ConnectX®-8 SuperNIC, supporting networking speeds of up to 800Gb/s for high-speed connectivity and multi-station scaling.

    DGX Station can serve as an individual desktop for one user running advanced AI models using local data, or as an on-demand, centralized compute node for multiple users. The system supports NVIDIA Multi-Instance GPU technology to partition into as many as seven instances — each with its own high-bandwidth memory, cache and compute cores — serving as a personal cloud for data science and AI development teams.

    To give developers a familiar user experience, DGX Spark and DGX Station mirror the software architecture that powers industrial-strength AI factories. Both systems use the NVIDIA DGX operating system, preconfigured with the latest NVIDIA AI software stack, and include access to NVIDIA NIM™ microservices and NVIDIA Blueprints.

    Developers can use common tools, such as PyTorch, Jupyter and Ollama, to prototype, fine-tune and perform inference on DGX Spark and seamlessly deploy to DGX Cloud or any accelerated data center or cloud infrastructure.

    Dell Technologies is among the first global system builders to develop DGX Spark and DGX Station — helping address the rising enterprise demand for powerful, localized AI computing solutions.

    “There’s a clear shift among consumers and enterprises to prioritize systems that can handle the next generation of intelligent workloads,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. “The interest in NVIDIA DGX Spark and NVIDIA DGX Station signals a new era of desktop computing, unlocking the full potential of local AI performance. Our portfolio is designed to meet these needs. Dell Pro Max with GB10 and Dell Pro Max with NVIDIA GB300 give organizations the infrastructure to integrate and tackle large AI workloads.”

    HP Inc. is bolstering the future of AI computing by offering these new solutions that enable businesses to unlock the full potential of AI performance.

    “Through our collaboration with NVIDIA, we are delivering a new set of AI-powered devices and experiences to further advance HP’s future-of-work ambitions to enable business growth and professional fulfillment,” said Enrique Lores, president and CEO of HP Inc. “With the HP ZGX, we are redefining desktop computing — bringing data-center-class AI performance to developers and researchers to iterate and simulate faster, unlocking new opportunities.”

    Expanded Availability and Partner Ecosystem
    DGX Spark will be available from Acer, ASUS, Dell Technologies, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo and MSI, as well as global channel partners, starting in July. Reservations for DGX Spark are now open on nvidia.com and through NVIDIA partners.

    DGX Station is expected to be available from ASUS, Dell Technologies, GIGABYTE, HP and MSI later this year.

    Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from Huang and learn more at NVIDIA GTC Taipei.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Pearlina Boc
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-562-275-5781
    pboc@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, performance and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services; NVIDIA’s collaborations with third parties and the benefits and impact thereof; third parties using or adopting our products and technologies, the benefits and impact thereof; and DGX Spark and DGX Station powering the next generation of AI research and development are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, ConnectX, DGX, DGX Station and NVIDIA NIM are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3de0d4f3-f87b-4d9c-8231-10c4957d60e9

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers Speed Trillion-Dollar Enterprise IT Industry Transition to AI Factories

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COMPUTEX — NVIDIA today announced it is speeding the trillion-dollar IT infrastructure transition to enterprise AI factories with NVIDIA RTX PRO™ Servers and a new NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design for building data centers that deliver universal acceleration for AI, design, engineering and business applications.

    Built with NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs, RTX PRO Servers extend the leading performance and energy efficiency of the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture to data centers that can run virtually every enterprise workload — driving the shift from CPU-based systems to efficient GPU-accelerated infrastructure.

    Using the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design, partners are building a new class of on-premises infrastructure — featuring RTX PRO Servers, NVIDIA Spectrum™-X Ethernet networking, NVIDIA BlueField® DPUs, NVIDIA-Certified Storage systems and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software — to accelerate product design and engineering simulation applications, as well as a quickly growing catalog of AI-enabled business systems and teams of digital AI agents. 

    “AI is revolutionizing every industry — every company will build or rent AI factories to run their businesses and power the intelligence of their products,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “With our global partner ecosystem, we’re helping enterprises infuse AI into their workforce, automate their factories and build AI-native products.”

    Industry Leaders Drive Innovation With NVIDIA AI Factories
    The NVIDIA Blackwell architecture enables enterprises to unlock the full potential of AI in their data center infrastructure. Cadence, Foxconn and Lilly are among the first planning to build AI factories using the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design with RTX PRO Servers to advance their operations.

    Foxconn is building an AI factory to advance global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing with NVIDIA-accelerated IT infrastructure, as well as its smart electric vehicles, factory digital twins, healthcare and robotics applications.

    “Foxconn is harnessing the performance of NVIDIA Blackwell to build AI infrastructure that will transform every facet of electronics manufacturing,” said Young Liu, chairman of Foxconn. “Through our close collaboration with NVIDIA, we will accelerate the integration of AI across our global operations and deliver smarter electronics for the world.”

    Universal Data Center Platform for Accelerated Workloads
    The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is a universal data center GPU for powering AI factories and accelerating demanding enterprise AI workloads, from multimodal AI inference and physical AI to design, scientific computing, graphics and video applications.

    NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers from global system partners can support up to eight NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, including NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPUs and NVIDIA ConnectX®-8 SuperNICs with built-in PCIe Gen 6 switches.

    Enterprises can accelerate AI and data science workloads on RTX PRO Servers with the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform. Developers can optimize AI inference performance and agent accuracy with NVIDIA NIM™ and NeMo™ microservices, and use the latest NVIDIA AI Blueprints for digital humans and AI query engines.

    With powerful NVIDIA RTX™ graphics and AI capabilities, NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers deliver exceptional performance for industrial digital twin and robotics learning and simulation workflows developed on the NVIDIA Omniverse™ platform.

    New Validated Design Speeds Enterprise AI Factory Deployments
    Using the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design — based on recommended hardware configurations from NVIDIA Enterprise Reference Architectures — NVIDIA partners will build Blackwell AI factories featuring NVIDIA-Certified Servers, NVIDIA Spectrum-X, NVIDIA BlueField, NVIDIA-Certified Storage and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software.

    The full-stack, validated design provides AI software stack recommendations to help enterprise customers build and operate on-premises AI factories. It offers guidance for scaling an enterprise AI factory with RTX PRO Servers, including deployment best practices, to help organizations meet their growing AI business needs efficiently and reliably.

    Customers can also architect their Blackwell AI factories with NVIDIA HGX™ B200 systems for large-scale, demanding AI workloads.

    NVIDIA Partners Building Blackwell AI Factory Infrastructure
    NVIDIA ecosystem partners are building products, software and services to speed the enterprise IT shift to accelerated AI factory infrastructure.

    Global system makers Cisco, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo will offer full-stack solutions with NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software using the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design.

    Data center system partners including Advantech, ASRock Rack, ASUS, Compal, Foxconn, GIGABYTE, Inventec, MiTAC Computing, MSI, Pegatron, Quanta Cloud Technology, Supermicro, Wistron and Wiwynn will also be offering NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers.

    Blackwell AI factories are ideal for accelerating workloads across a broad range of popular enterprise software platforms, including those from Ansys, Cadence, CrowdStrike, Elastic, Red Hat, Siemens and Synopsys. 

    Enterprises building AI factories with NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs can deploy NVIDIA-Certified Storage from partners including DDN, Dell, HPE, Hitachi Vantara, IBM, NetApp, Nutanix, Pure Storage, VAST Data and WEKA to support a broad range of workloads.

    Consulting giants Accenture, Deloitte, EY, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro are helping enterprises transition to Blackwell-accelerated data centers to speed applications across their business using the Enterprise AI Factory design.

    Availability
    Customers can contact their preferred NVIDIA technology provider to plan their enterprise AI factory with RTX PRO Servers. Learn more about the Enterprise AI Factory validated design and get started on the NVIDIA Marketplace.

    Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from Huang and learn more at NVIDIA GTC Taipei.

    About NVIDIA
     NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Pearlina Boc
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-562-275-5781
    pboc@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, performance and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services; NVIDIA’s collaborations with third parties and the benefits and impact thereof; third parties using or adopting our products and technologies, the benefits and impact thereof; AI revolutionizing every industry, from the way companies run to the products they make; and with its global partner ecosystem, NVIDIA helping enterprises infuse AI into their workforce, automate their factories and build AI-native products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, BlueField, ConnectX, NeMo, NVIDIA HGX, NVIDIA NIM, NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA RTX, NVIDIA RTX PRO and NVIDIA Spectrum-X are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80e02716-bdbd-4b88-97ae-fae2da8d5115

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: An online travel company just collapsed. Here’s how to avoid being left stranded by an online deal

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madalyn Scerri, Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality, Torrens University Australia

    Viacheslav Lopatin/Shutterstock

    Traveldream.com.au sold discounted holidays – curated hiking tours, boutique cruises and cultural getaways through a slick website and polished social media ads. But news emerged last week that the Melbourne-based travel company has collapsed into administration, leaving customers out of pocket by thousands of dollars, and in some cases, stranded overseas.

    What many didn’t know was that Traveldream hadn’t been formally accredited with the leading industry body since 2020. Its status under the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme, run by the Australian Travel Industry Association, had been cancelled.

    To make matters worse, most travel insurance policies don’t cover insolvency, meaning many customers have no way to recover their losses.

    Australians are expected to spend over A$2 billion booking holidays online in 2024–25.

    Big name platforms such as Booking.com and Expedia account for about 60% of this activity. But many travellers are also turning to smaller or lesser-known providers offering flashy deals and lower prices, often with fewer safeguards.

    So, how can you protect yourself? Start with these five checks.

    1. Don’t be swayed by slick websites or social media ads

    It’s a common tactic, and one that’s hard to resist. You’re scrolling, you see a dreamy image, the price is tempting, and suddenly you’re halfway through checkout.

    But a polished ad doesn’t guarantee legitimacy.

    Travel-related scams are on the rise, especially involving online-only sellers.

    Ads on social media for idyllic vacations can be tempting, but check the fine print.
    Song_about_summer/Shutterstock

    Check for a verifiable business address, phone number and customer support. If the deal feels vague, under-priced or overly urgent, that’s a red flag.

    Look for independent reviews (on Trustpilot, Tripadvisor or Google), and check Scamwatch for known issues.

    2. Look at how the company engages with customers

    A company’s reputation isn’t just about what it promises: it’s built on how it responds to questions and complaints. Before booking, take a moment to see how the business interacts with customers online.

    Do they reply constructively to complaints? Do they offer updates or explanations when issues arise?

    Also notice the tone. Does it feel human and responsive, or generic and hands-off? That can suggest how they’ll treat you after the sale.

    Small signs can speak volumes. A page with thousands of followers but no visible engagement may indicate a paid audience – and a company that vanishes when things get difficult.

    3. Check if the company is accredited

    Another way to assess a travel company’s credibility is to check if it holds formal accreditation. This signals the company has met standards in financial security, customer service and dispute resolution.

    Search the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme register at https://www.atas.com.au, or look for Quality Tourism Accreditation. For overseas providers, check for recognised local schemes.

    Accreditation offers extra reassurance, but it’s not the whole picture. Some large, reputable companies, such as Expedia, operate without it. If a company isn’t accredited, proceed with caution and focus on how bookings and payments are handled.

    4. Scrutinise policies carefully

    Before booking, check what happens if the provider goes bust, whether you can cancel or reschedule, and how your booking will be confirmed. Where possible, follow up directly with the hotel, airline or tour operator to make sure reservations are secured.

    Booking directly with a hotel or tour provider can ensure you are getting up-to-date availability.
    Media_Photos/Shutterstock

    It’s also important to understand what travel insurance does – and doesn’t – cover.

    Company insolvency is one of the most common exclusions. Unless a policy includes “end supplier failure” or a similar clause (most don’t), you may not be able to claim a refund. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement to check exactly where you stand.

    Another safeguard is to pay with protection in mind. Although conditions vary by provider, credit cards may offer chargebacks if the goods or services aren’t delivered.

    5. Book direct where feasible

    While accredited travel agencies can be helpful for complex itineraries, like overseas trips with multiple stops or bundled services, it’s often worth booking directly with the provider when making travel arrangements online, whether that’s a hotel, airline or tour company.

    Cutting out the intermediary can offer better value, including complimentary extras, flexible cancellation and full access to loyalty programs.

    Direct bookings usually reflect real-time availability and pricing, reducing the risk of outdated information. You’ll benefit from direct communication and confirmation, making it easier to customise or resolve issues.

    If something goes wrong, there’s also greater clarity about who’s responsible – offering stronger recourse under Australian Consumer Law.

    The bottom line?

    As more Australians book holidays online, it’s becoming harder to tell what’s trustworthy and what could leave you out of pocket.

    Traveldream’s collapse is a reminder. Even in the world of digital travel deals, it pays to ask: is this company built to last, not just until your trip departs, but until you return home?

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. An online travel company just collapsed. Here’s how to avoid being left stranded by an online deal – https://theconversation.com/an-online-travel-company-just-collapsed-heres-how-to-avoid-being-left-stranded-by-an-online-deal-256878

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Foxconn Builds AI Factory in Partnership With Taiwan and NVIDIA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Foxconn’s Subsidiary — Big Innovation Company — to Build NVIDIA Blackwell Supercomputer With 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to Deliver a Leap in AI Computing for Taiwan
    • TSMC to Harness Big Innovation Company Cloud AI Infrastructure for Research and Development
    • Taiwan National Science and Technology Council to Invest in Supercomputer to Accelerate AI Development and Adoption Across Industries

    TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — COMPUTEX — NVIDIA and Foxconn Hon Hai Technology Group today announced they are deepening their longstanding partnership and are working with the Taiwan government to build an AI factory supercomputer that will deliver state-of-the-art NVIDIA Blackwell infrastructure to researchers, startups and industries.

    Foxconn will provide the AI infrastructure through its subsidiary Big Innovation Company as an NVIDIA Cloud Partner. Featuring 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, the AI factory will significantly expand AI computing availability and fuel innovation for Taiwan researchers and enterprises.

    The Taiwan National Science and Technology Council will use the Big Innovation Company supercomputer to provide AI cloud computing resources to the Taiwan technology ecosystem, accelerating AI development and adoption across sectors.

    TSMC researchers plan to leverage the system to advance its research and development with orders-of-magnitude faster performance, compared with previous-generation systems.

    “AI has ignited a new industrial revolution — science and industry will be transformed,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “We are delighted to partner with Foxconn and Taiwan to help build Taiwan’s AI infrastructure, and to support TSMC and other leading companies to advance innovation in the age of AI and robotics.”

    “Foxconn builds technology that underpins modern life, and now, we’re building computing infrastructure to scale the next generation of breakthroughs across Taiwan,” said Young Liu, chairman and CEO of Foxconn. “By building this AI factory with NVIDIA and TSMC, we are laying the groundwork to connect people in Taiwan as well as government organizations and enterprises such as TSMC to accelerate innovation and empower industries.”

    “At TSMC, innovation lies at the heart of everything we do. By harnessing advanced AI infrastructure, we empower our researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in semiconductor technology, enabling next-generation solutions for our customers and the world,” said Dr. C.C. Wei, chairman and CEO of TSMC. “Leveraging this AI factory reinforces our commitment to pushing the limits of AI-driven innovation.”

    “Our plan is to create an AI-focused industrial ecosystem in southern Taiwan,” said Minister Wu Cheng-Wen of the National Science and Technology Council. “We are focused on investing in innovative research, developing a strong AI industry and encouraging the everyday use of AI tools. Our ultimate goal is to create a smart AI island filled with smart cities, and we look forward to collaborating with NVIDIA and Hon Hai to make this vision a reality.”

    Foxconn Drives Regional Technology Innovation as NVIDIA Cloud Partner
    The Big Innovation Cloud AI factory will feature NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra systems, including the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 rack-scale solution with NVIDIA NVLink™, NVIDIA Quantum InfiniBand and NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ Ethernet networking.

    In addition to becoming an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, Big Innovation Cloud plans to participate in the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ marketplace, announced separately today. This will provide a wide range of enterprises — from startups and research institutions to established industry leaders — easy access to advanced GPU resources, further accelerating AI development and deployment in Taiwan. The system is expected to also provide computing to speed the work of startups and developers through the NVIDIA Inception program and the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute.

    Foxconn will use the AI supercomputer of Big Innovation Company to accelerate automation and efficiency across its three core pillars — smart cities, electric vehicles and manufacturing — with a vision of connecting industries, citizens and government organizations to accelerate growth with AI.

    For smart cities, the AI factory will help optimize connected transportation systems and other civil resources to enhance quality of life for people in Taiwan. For smart electric vehicles, the infrastructure will enable advanced driver-assistance systems and safety. In manufacturing, AI-driven analytics, automation and digital twin technologies will streamline operations and speed product iteration.

    Learn more by watching the COMPUTEX keynote from Huang and learn more at NVIDIA GTC Taipei.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Natalie Hereth
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-360-581-1088
    nhereth@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, and performance of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; NVIDIA’s partnership with third parties and the impact and benefits thereof; third parties adopting NVIDIA’s products and technologies and the impact and benefits thereof, and the availability and features of their offerings; science and industry being transformed; and NVIDIA partnering with Foxconn and Taiwan to help build Taiwan’s AI infrastructure, and to support TSMC and other leading companies to advance innovation in the age of AI and robotics are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX Cloud Lepton, NVIDIA Spectrum-X and NVLink are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b40b18f-0c21-4eb5-82b1-2e81928b5301

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why it’s time to delay tackling in junior sports until the age of 12

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Garrett, Lecturer in Exercise Science and Physiology, Griffith University

    Paolo Bona/Shutterstock

    Many children across Australia have begun to play their favourite contact sports like rugby league, rugby union and Australian rules football.

    Many will be just starting out during their early years of primary school.

    Yet there are growing concerns these young athletes may be at heightened risk of sports-related concussions due to their more vulnerable developing brains.

    Our new opinion article, published in Sports Medicine, presents the case for delaying all full-contact tackling until the age of 12, based on the current body of evidence and ongoing debate in the field.

    Some see this as a necessary step to safeguard children’s brains. Others worry it might leave kids unprepared for more physical challenges as they grow.

    But children are not mini adults.

    Why age 12?

    Children have thinner cranial bones, proportionally larger heads and weaker neck muscles than adults, making them more vulnerable to rotational and linear forces during head impacts.



    Read more:
    A stronger neck can help young athletes reduce their risk of concussion

    Their neural pathways are still maturing, so repeated head knocks – referred to as “sub-concussive” impacts, which don’t produce obvious concussion symptoms – may pose greater risks for long-term brain development.

    Around the ages of eight to 12 is a sweet spot for children’s cognitive and motor development, as they make significant gains in physical fitness, motor coordination, body awareness and cognitive functions such as reaction time and decision-making.

    An eight-year-old, for instance, may struggle with the rapid judgements required to align their shoulder and brace their neck properly when tackling a moving player.

    However, by 12, many can execute these decisions with greater consistency.

    Aligning physical growth with cognitive readiness can allow young athletes to enter contact situations with a firmer grasp of safe techniques and the confidence to use them during games.

    Why this might be needed

    A common misconception is delaying full-body contact means not teaching it at all.

    Children should be gradually taught skills like body positioning, safe falling and correct shoulder placement before they are faced with high-intensity collisions.

    This means children get time to master core skills of the sport, such as catching, passing, kicking and tactics, free from the added demands of body-to-body contact.

    This dual focus on skill-based contact training and fundamental sport skills promotes a more holistic athlete development aligned with childhood development.

    Unsurprisingly, studies show non-contact versions of sports have fewer head impacts than those in full-contact leagues.

    Weight-based categories, such as those used in some junior rugby competitions, aim to lower injury risks by preventing physical mismatches. However, they don’t fully address poor technique or cognitive readiness.

    Many leagues across the world are modifying contact rules to reduce youth injuries, with ice hockey the best example.

    Some ice hockey competitions in North America raised the introduction of body checking (when players crash into each other with their hips or shoulders) to 13–14 years of age, resulting in significantly lower injury rates among younger players.

    Studies also found delaying body checking did not increase concussion risk in later years, supporting the idea that “later is safer”.

    The argument against

    Delaying full-body contact (such as tackling) in youth sport remains controversial.

    Some argue early contact fosters character and builds resilience and physical readiness despite the risk to a developing brain.

    But while early findings suggest delaying contact can reduce injuries, we still don’t have enough long-term studies to prove the full impact over time.

    Delaying tackling also poses a challenge, as modifying a sport’s contact rules is complex, and cultural resistance or limited coaching resources in community leagues can hinder change.

    Still, many believe that with appropriate formats, coach education and a phased introduction, it is possible to balance skill development with athlete safety.

    A way forward

    A potential way forward involves structured, progressive skill development, and gradually teaching young players how to give and receive contact, initially in controlled, low-intensity settings. The emphasis should be focused on safe falling, bracing, neck strengthening and correct head placement.

    Some experts also recommend a broader approach that makes safety part of everything in sport, including everything from how coaches teach to the rules of the game to the overall culture.

    By ensuring consistency across coaches, referees and administrators, this model helps reduce the risk of concussions.

    With a structured progression and strong safety culture, more children will be physically and cognitively prepared to participate in full-contact sports confidently, safely and with greater long-term enjoyment and retention.

    Growing evidence supports introducing contact in a developmentally appropriate way to improve safety.

    Earlier collisions may raise the risk of concussions without offering much benefit in the long run.

    A delayed approach, with progressive skill instruction, may be safer and allow children to develop core skills first.

    It’s a way to protect young brains and ensure every child can play confidently and safely once they transition to full-contact tackling, promoting long-term participation safely.

    Jonathon Headrick is affiliated with Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA).

    Joel Garrett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why it’s time to delay tackling in junior sports until the age of 12 – https://theconversation.com/why-its-time-to-delay-tackling-in-junior-sports-until-the-age-of-12-256466

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What causes ADHD? What we know, don’t know and suspect

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Poulton, Senior Lecturer, Brain Mind Centre Nepean, University of Sydney

    Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

    Neurodevelopmental disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the brain from early development. They include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

    These conditions usually become more evident over time. This is because delays in the skills a child is expected to have developed at each age become more apparent.

    ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects around 8-10% of children and 2-5% of adults.

    ADHD affects a person’s efficiency at completing tasks (for example, because they get distracted) and their behaviour (such as losing things or struggling to pay attention).

    ADHD can affect all aspects of functioning including problems learning and maintaining friendships. If undiagnosed, the challenges are likely to persist and may lead to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

    How is it diagnosed?

    There is no specific genetic or brain abnormality that causes ADHD and no single reliable test to diagnose it.

    A formal diagnosis depends on whether a child shows at least six of the diagnostic criteria for inattention (at least five for adults) and/or at least six of the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity (at least five for adults). These have to persist for at least six months.

    The diagnostic criteria include:

    • difficulty concentrating (for example, trouble listening, poor attention to detail, not getting tasks finished)

    • hyperactivity (including fidgeting, feeling restless and running around, constantly chatting)

    • impulsivity (for example, interrupting conversations and games, difficulty waiting their turn).

    Not everyone with ADHD is hyperactive. For people with inattentive-type ADHD, their main difficulty is inattention, for example, concentrating consistently on everyday tasks that are not particularly interesting.

    If someone meets the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity and for inattention, they have combined-type ADHD.

    How reliable is diagnosis?

    One problem with these criteria is they’re not specific to ADHD. For example, difficulties concentrating can also be a symptom of depression.

    This is why it’s not enough to simply tick a symptom checklist. The formal diagnostic criteria emphasise these symptoms must interfere with daily functioning.

    The key question is: are ADHD symptoms causing day-to-day problems or holding this person back?

    What this means will vary from person to person, depending on what their everyday activities involve.

    For example, someone may struggle to concentrate at school but excel later on in a creative career such as photography, or in a high-intensity job with hard deadlines, such as journalism.

    It also means a person may only meet the full diagnostic criteria at certain stages of their life. Subthreshold ADHD – when someone meets some criteria but not enough for a diagnosis – can still cause significant difficulties.

    Gender differences

    Boys aged between four and 11 are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.

    This may partly be because the diagnostic criteria are especially good at identifying hyperactive young boys. But they are not as effective for girls, particularly those who are not hyperactive or disruptive, or who try to hide their difficulties concentrating.

    Girls and women are likely to be diagnosed later and show more “internalising symptoms”, such as depression. However the rate of underdiagnosis in girls has been improving over the last four decades.

    The gender disparity also evens out with age. The female proportion of young adults diagnosed with ADHD is closer to half (38%).

    Adults may first notice symptoms of ADHD when managing significant life changes.
    Maria Svetlychnaja/Shutterstock

    What about genetics?

    There is also a strong genetic component. Heritability for ADHD is around 70–80%. This describes how much of the person-to-person differences in ADHD are due to genetics, rather than environmental influences.

    The more closely someone is related to a person with ADHD – in other words, the more genes they have in common – the more likely they are to have ADHD.

    However the genetics are complex. It’s not as simple as finding a gene or selection of genes “responsible” for ADHD.

    For example, early research linked ADHD to six genes that target neurotransmission (how the brain sends chemical signals). But the effect of each gene was small.

    ADHD is now understood to be a polygenic disorder, with thousands of common genetic variants involved.

    Each of these genes is capable of making a discrete but minuscule contribution to the overall expression of ADHD. Because these genes are common, the traits of ADHD are distributed throughout the population, with no clearly defined cut-off between those who do and do not have the condition.

    Within a family, the interaction between shared genetics and a shared environment (their household) make it difficult to study these separately.

    Does environment play a role?

    A supportive family can help a child with ADHD cope better with everyday tasks, as parents often adapt their parenting style to their child’s behaviour. This may mask the ADHD and delay diagnosis.

    But if one or both parents also has ADHD, this may affect their parenting style. It can be difficult to determine how much of that child’s behaviour is due to their inherited ADHD, and how much to the family environment and parenting.

    Studies have also shown children who are relatively young for their year when they start school have higher rates of treatment for ADHD. This points to their environment playing a role in when their ADHD is diagnosed, but not necessarily its cause.

    For more information about ADHD, as well as information about support groups, visit the ADHD foundation or ADHD Australia websites.

    Alison Poulton is a member of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association and ADHD Australia. She has received personal fees and non-financial support from Shire/Takeda; and book royalties from Disruptive Publishing (ADHD Made Simple).

    – ref. What causes ADHD? What we know, don’t know and suspect – https://theconversation.com/what-causes-adhd-what-we-know-dont-know-and-suspect-241119

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What causes ADHD? What we know, don’t know and suspect

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alison Poulton, Senior Lecturer, Brain Mind Centre Nepean, University of Sydney

    Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

    Neurodevelopmental disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the brain from early development. They include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

    These conditions usually become more evident over time. This is because delays in the skills a child is expected to have developed at each age become more apparent.

    ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects around 8-10% of children and 2-5% of adults.

    ADHD affects a person’s efficiency at completing tasks (for example, because they get distracted) and their behaviour (such as losing things or struggling to pay attention).

    ADHD can affect all aspects of functioning including problems learning and maintaining friendships. If undiagnosed, the challenges are likely to persist and may lead to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

    How is it diagnosed?

    There is no specific genetic or brain abnormality that causes ADHD and no single reliable test to diagnose it.

    A formal diagnosis depends on whether a child shows at least six of the diagnostic criteria for inattention (at least five for adults) and/or at least six of the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity (at least five for adults). These have to persist for at least six months.

    The diagnostic criteria include:

    • difficulty concentrating (for example, trouble listening, poor attention to detail, not getting tasks finished)

    • hyperactivity (including fidgeting, feeling restless and running around, constantly chatting)

    • impulsivity (for example, interrupting conversations and games, difficulty waiting their turn).

    Not everyone with ADHD is hyperactive. For people with inattentive-type ADHD, their main difficulty is inattention, for example, concentrating consistently on everyday tasks that are not particularly interesting.

    If someone meets the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity and for inattention, they have combined-type ADHD.

    How reliable is diagnosis?

    One problem with these criteria is they’re not specific to ADHD. For example, difficulties concentrating can also be a symptom of depression.

    This is why it’s not enough to simply tick a symptom checklist. The formal diagnostic criteria emphasise these symptoms must interfere with daily functioning.

    The key question is: are ADHD symptoms causing day-to-day problems or holding this person back?

    What this means will vary from person to person, depending on what their everyday activities involve.

    For example, someone may struggle to concentrate at school but excel later on in a creative career such as photography, or in a high-intensity job with hard deadlines, such as journalism.

    It also means a person may only meet the full diagnostic criteria at certain stages of their life. Subthreshold ADHD – when someone meets some criteria but not enough for a diagnosis – can still cause significant difficulties.

    Gender differences

    Boys aged between four and 11 are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.

    This may partly be because the diagnostic criteria are especially good at identifying hyperactive young boys. But they are not as effective for girls, particularly those who are not hyperactive or disruptive, or who try to hide their difficulties concentrating.

    Girls and women are likely to be diagnosed later and show more “internalising symptoms”, such as depression. However the rate of underdiagnosis in girls has been improving over the last four decades.

    The gender disparity also evens out with age. The female proportion of young adults diagnosed with ADHD is closer to half (38%).

    Adults may first notice symptoms of ADHD when managing significant life changes.
    Maria Svetlychnaja/Shutterstock

    What about genetics?

    There is also a strong genetic component. Heritability for ADHD is around 70–80%. This describes how much of the person-to-person differences in ADHD are due to genetics, rather than environmental influences.

    The more closely someone is related to a person with ADHD – in other words, the more genes they have in common – the more likely they are to have ADHD.

    However the genetics are complex. It’s not as simple as finding a gene or selection of genes “responsible” for ADHD.

    For example, early research linked ADHD to six genes that target neurotransmission (how the brain sends chemical signals). But the effect of each gene was small.

    ADHD is now understood to be a polygenic disorder, with thousands of common genetic variants involved.

    Each of these genes is capable of making a discrete but minuscule contribution to the overall expression of ADHD. Because these genes are common, the traits of ADHD are distributed throughout the population, with no clearly defined cut-off between those who do and do not have the condition.

    Within a family, the interaction between shared genetics and a shared environment (their household) make it difficult to study these separately.

    Does environment play a role?

    A supportive family can help a child with ADHD cope better with everyday tasks, as parents often adapt their parenting style to their child’s behaviour. This may mask the ADHD and delay diagnosis.

    But if one or both parents also has ADHD, this may affect their parenting style. It can be difficult to determine how much of that child’s behaviour is due to their inherited ADHD, and how much to the family environment and parenting.

    Studies have also shown children who are relatively young for their year when they start school have higher rates of treatment for ADHD. This points to their environment playing a role in when their ADHD is diagnosed, but not necessarily its cause.

    For more information about ADHD, as well as information about support groups, visit the ADHD foundation or ADHD Australia websites.

    Alison Poulton is a member of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association and ADHD Australia. She has received personal fees and non-financial support from Shire/Takeda; and book royalties from Disruptive Publishing (ADHD Made Simple).

    – ref. What causes ADHD? What we know, don’t know and suspect – https://theconversation.com/what-causes-adhd-what-we-know-dont-know-and-suspect-241119

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –