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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU student took part in the Russian Venture Forum

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Bogdan Pismarkin at the forum

    On April 10–11, one of the key events in the field of technological entrepreneurship took place in Kazan – the 19th Russian Venture Forum.

    The event brought together more than 150 startups, over 10 venture funds, dozens of investors and representatives of government agencies. The opening ceremony of the forum was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov, the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov.

    A second-year master’s student at SPbGASU, Bogdan Pismarkin, who is graduating from the Startup as a Diploma program at the Department of Construction Organization, took part in the forum organized by the university with the support of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career of our university.

    The RVF-2025 discussed current issues of venture market development: support for technology startups, companies entering PreIPO, investments in late-stage projects and entering international markets. Particular attention was paid to the interaction between startups and investors – in the format of pitch sessions, startup battles and networking at the forum sites.

    According to Bogdan, he gained valuable practical experience, made many useful contacts with startup representatives, business angels and investors, and also deepened his knowledge in the field of growth strategy and attracting investment.

    “The participation of SPbGASU students in events of this scale not only contributes to the development of their projects, but also strengthens the university’s image. Our students talk about the support of entrepreneurship at the university, attracting new talented applicants – future creators of technology companies that develop the construction industry and the country’s economy as a whole,” noted Ekaterina Abolina, Director of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career.

    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 Global: Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mark Winfield, Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

    A defining feature of the ongoing federal election campaign has been the apparent marginalization of the environment and climate change as top-of-mind issues due to threats by the United States against Canadian sovereignty, security and trade.

    But how Canada responds to U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions will also have profound implications for its future greenhouse gas emissions and its economy.

    The current federal election is very different from those held in 2015, 2019 and 2021. In those elections, the environment and climate were central issues. Each time, more than 60 per cent of Canadian voters chose parties (Liberal, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green) that advocated for strong climate action, including some form of carbon pricing.



    Read more:
    Canada’s federal election made big strides for climate and the environment

    The increasing evidence of the consequences of a changing climate had placed the environment and climate change among the leading issues in the minds of Canadians for nearly two decades. The political landscape has shifted dramatically since then.

    The role of inflation

    Although Trump’s second presidency is often cited as the trigger point for a decline of the environment as a top-of-mind concern for Canadians, the slide actually began a year earlier, in the fall of 2023.

    Despite the record wildfire season that summer, the impact of inflation, triggered in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, moved economic concerns to the forefront of the public’s mind. Government stimulus programs needed to counter the impacts of the pandemic contributed to inflationary pressures, prompting the Bank of Canada to hike interest rates in response, adding to Canadians’ economic distress.

    Amid high inflation and high interest rates, the Liberal government’s climate strategies — especially consumer carbon pricing — became an easy political target, particularly for a Conservative opposition with little apparent concern for the climate challenge.

    But even though climate change is no longer top of mind for Canadians, it remains a significant embedded concern, with as many as 70 per cent of Canadians believing climate change is real and caused by human activity. And perhaps surprisingly, despite the criticism levelled at the consumer carbon tax, between 60 and 70 per cent of non-Conservative leaning voters (those intending to cast their ballots for Liberal, NDP, Bloc and Green candidates) continue to support the concept of carbon pricing.

    Focus on fossil fuels

    Despite this, many political and business leaders have responded to Trump’s actions by focusing on natural resource exports, especially fossil fuels and critical minerals, to bolster the Canadian economy.

    This has been accompanied by calls to further streamline environmental review and approval processes for resource extraction and export projects like pipelines, and to expand their subsidization by taxpayers.

    Discussions about the climate implications of these initiatives have been noticeably absent. So have conversations about the long-term economic viability and desirability of expanding Canada’s dependency on resource commodity exports to increasingly uncertain global markets.

    On fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency and others are predicting that global consumption will peak within the next decade. This will reflect the falling costs of renewable energy, improving energy productivity and the imperative of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.

    The peak will likely happen before any new major export infrastructure can be built in Canada, regardless of what review and approval requirements they might be subjected to.

    In a world of declining fossil fuel consumption, Canada — increasingly reliant on high-cost and high-carbon production like oilsands crude and fracked and liquified natural gas — seems more likely to be among the earliest producers to fall than among the last standing. Public investments in new export infrastructure look like dubious propositions in this scenario.



    Read more:
    Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith

    International markets for critical minerals are likely to remain in deep flux as the pace of technological development in renewable energy and energy storage accelerates to reduce or avoid dependency on costly and difficult-to-access materials.

    Mining operations also continue to have substantial environmental impacts with significant implications for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

    Backwards approach

    All of this means there must be continued meaningful scrutiny of projects in terms of their implications for climate change, environmental sustainability and reconciliation, as well as their economic viability and potential legacy costs for taxpayers — not a further streamlining of review processes.

    Falling back on fossil fuels in response to Trump is a fundamentally backwards approach. It ignores the implications of the climate challenge. As recently noted by at least one Canadian business leader, it also overlooks the need to not just diversify Canada’s markets, but to diversify Canadian products as well.

    Canada must design and implement strategies that transform its industries from producers of low-value raw materials into producers of higher-value products and services for a world that must decarbonize and advance sustainability.

    As a coalition of Canadian mayors recently pointed out, climate change remains a real threat to Canadians and their communities. It’s not going away regardless of what Trump’s executive orders might say.

    As they campaign to lead the country, the situation requires more substantive responses from Canada’s would-be prime ministers than Canadians are getting right now.

    Mark Winfield receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is – https://theconversation.com/canadas-federal-election-doesnt-seem-like-its-about-climate-change-but-it-actually-is-254458

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair?

    Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently secured over 95% of national parliament seats, except for 2005, when the opposition won about 32%. In 2021, the ruling Prosperity Party won 96.8% of the seats.

    I specialise in Ethiopian politics and federalism, and recently published a paper on the country’s electoral landscape. In my study, I examined elections under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled from 1991 to 2019, and its successor, the Prosperity Party.

    My aim was to see whether Ethiopia was moving towards political pluralism, where diverse voices are represented in government decision-making, or if it remained authoritarian.

    I conclude that the government still tends to suppress, detain and eliminate the opposition. I identified three main reasons for this.

    • Despite changes in leadership and ruling parties, state repression, vote-rigging and political exclusion have been common features in the country’s elections since 1995.

    • Ethiopia suffers from an uneven electoral playing field. Some regions experience contests while the ruling party tightly controls others.

    • Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system has excluded significant opposition voices from parliament. This allows the ruling party to dominate both federal and regional legislative seats.

    The way the electoral system works means that Ethiopia’s parliament is a one-party house, where other voices are drowned out.

    My research highlights the fact that elections can be both “free” and “unfair”. Citizens technically have the right to vote. But an unbalanced electoral system and an uneven playing field ensure that ruling parties retain power.

    The 2026 elections provide an opportunity for reforms that ensure greater political inclusion.

    How elections are run

    Ethiopia has held six rounds of elections since 1995. Despite some variations, the same patterns of electoral control persist. The ruling Prosperity Party has sustained and adapted authoritarian strategies to maintain dominance.

    The party still uses many of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s tactics, including harassing, detaining and eliminating political adversaries.

    It also has some new ways of looking for support, like selectively addressing regional grievances.

    Regional differences

    Opposition parties in different regions have faced varying degrees of repression. Electoral control has been strategic, rather than uniform.

    Unlike previous studies that broadly assess Ethiopia’s authoritarian past, my research zooms in on regional variations in electoral competition. I show that repression is not uniform but strategically applied based on political calculations. This adds a new dimension to discussions on African elections. It shows that ruling parties can finetune control tactics to target specific threats.

    In an ethnically diverse federal state like Ethiopia, an electoral system that promotes broad representation is essential for stability and inclusive governance.

    First-past-the-post system

    The current winner-takes-all system fosters a political monopoly. It sidelines critical perspectives and erodes trust in democratic processes.

    In the 2021 election, opposition parties performed better in ethnically diverse regions, such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. However, these parties were heavily suppressed in political strongholds like Oromia and Somali regions. The first-past-the-post system has consistently led to one-party dominance, even when opposition parties gained significant public support.

    For example, in 2005, opposition parties secured around 38% of the vote but ended up with far fewer parliamentary seats than their vote share justified.

    In 2021, the Prosperity Party won 96.8% of federal parliament seats, despite getting 90% of the total vote. In Addis Ababa, opposition groups such as Balderas and Ezema received 32% of the vote but won no seats in parliament. This is because the system gives all the seats to the party with the highest votes in each constituency. It doesn’t even matter if opposition parties collectively get a substantial vote.

    In Oromia and Somali regions, major opposition parties like the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front withdrew from fielding candidates due to repression. As a result, the ruling party was the sole option for two-thirds of federal seats and three-fourths of regional seats.

    A way forward

    So, what can be done? My research suggests three steps.

    First, moving towards a proportional representation system would help balance the political competition. Proportional representation means that if a party gets 20% of the vote, it receives 20% of the seats.

    About 130 countries, including South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, use this system. Multi-party representation has led to more stable and inclusive governance. Fewer than 55 countries use first-past-the-post.

    Second, the government must guarantee that opposition parties can operate freely in all regions, not just in areas where they pose little threat. All parties should have an equal chance to compete.

    Third, independent electoral bodies and international observers need greater access to ensure fair play. Strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral board and making sure it’s impartial will foster public trust in elections.



    Read more:
    Ethiopia’s civil war: what’s behind the Amhara rebellion?

    Ethiopia’s democracy is at a tipping point. If the country continues with its current system, it risks further political alienation and instability. By embracing electoral reform, Ethiopia could move towards a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic and representative future.

    Bizuneh Yimenu 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. Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-2026-elections-without-reforms-the-vote-may-not-be-free-or-fair-253161

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Relebohiseng Matubatuba, Lecturer in Marketing, University of the Witwatersrand

    The shortage of blood for medical use is a global challenge. South Africa is not exempt. Blood collection organisations such as the South African National Blood Service struggle to meet the demand for blood products, because of insufficient blood donations and the scarcity of loyal blood donors.

    Blood collection organisations rely on the goodwill of a few individuals who voluntarily donate blood. To maintain a sustainable supply of blood, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that at least 1% of a country’s population donate blood. In South Africa the donation rate is below this.

    There are two blood collection organisations in South Africa – the Western Cape Blood Service operates exclusively in the Western Cape province while the South African National Blood Service, operates in the other eight provinces of the country.

    To increase the numbers, the country’s blood donation organisations have focused on the recruitment of new donors and awareness initiatives, using research findings that look at what motivates, and what deters, people from donating blood. But little focus has been put on the behaviour of those who already donate.



    Read more:
    Blood donation saves lives but few South Africans are regular donors

    I have conducted research in a bid to fill this gap. In a recent paper I examined factors influencing consumers’ intention to donate blood. In addition, in my recently completed PhD, I looked at the retention of existing blood donors and what drives their donation behaviour.

    The research suggests that blood collection organisations need to shift focus from acquiring new blood donors to building relationships with existing blood donors. Existing donors are an important cohort because they are reliable, and have higher donation eligibility and lower recruitment costs.

    The aim should be to drive loyalty.

    I considered the use of technology to encourage people to donate blood regularly. I concluded from my findings that blood collection organisations should customise appeals to various types of donors. They need to appeal to people in a personalised way if they want to drive loyalty.

    The drivers

    To understand what drives donor loyalty, it was important to understand why people donate blood.

    As part of my research, 658 blood donors completed the survey and I conducted interviews with 18 blood donors. The interviews revealed various reasons for donating blood. These included:

    • Awareness of the importance of donating blood

    As one participant in my research put it:

    I’ve been in and out of hospital for my kids and for my wife when she was pregnant. If I don’t donate, where are they going to get that blood from?

    • Contribution to society – saving or changing someone’s life

    This was articulated by one person:

    I’m past the point of only going for a reward, but I actually want to go, because I want to save someone’s life and do good in the community.

    • Moral responsibility

    As one participant put it:

    When I don’t donate blood, I feel bad because, as a universal donor, I could potentially be saving lives as my blood is not limited, as opposed to other groups.

    • Health-related benefits, like free health checks and the requirement to live a healthy lifestyle

    • Incentives

    The gifts make me feel appreciated. It makes me want to donate more and more.

    Beyond just donating blood, some donors also expressed that they shared their blood donation experiences with their friends, family, co-workers and on their social media platforms to encourage others to donate.

    The use of technology

    Findings from my PhD show that donors would like personalised communication from the blood collection organisations. This should include:

    • sharing information about blood donation achievements specific to them (the donor)

    • checking up on the donors who are not donating as they used to or may have stopped donating

    • following up on deferred donors to encourage them to return for a checkup and subsequent donation. Deferred donors are those who were unable to donate during a donation drive because they didn’t meet the donation requirements (for example they had low iron levels).

    • reminding donors of their upcoming donations.

    Others shared that they would like more interactive communication beyond being told that they have saved three lives after donating blood. This could include sharing specific information about the impact of the donors donation – “your donation helped a cancer patient recover” – and stories to make their contribution more tangible.

    What needs to be done

    Research has shown that digital technologies have been used successfully to foster customer engagement, enhance customer experiences and satisfaction, facilitate communication and information-sharing, and offer opportunities to shape and influence behaviour. To achieve this, donor organisations have large amounts of donor data and other data (big data) which they can use to gain insights that can be used in the following ways.

    Firstly, they should analyse donor data to identify patterns and segment donors based on factors such as how long an individual has been donating, donation frequency, blood type, location, and preferred communication channels.

    This information can be used to tailor communication and engagement strategies to specific donor groups. Donors follow different donor paths over time and cannot be viewed as a single segment.

    Secondly, organisations should monitor donation trends over time. This will help to understand seasonal fluctuations, identify peak donation periods, and anticipate potential donor needs. These insights can be used to plan targeted recruitment campaigns and allocate resources.



    Read more:
    Explainer: what are blood groups and why do they matter?

    Thirdly, organisations should consider personalised communication. This could include:

    • Targeted nudging: timely and relevant communication, like reminders for upcoming donation appointments, personalised thank-you messages, information about the donation they have made or invitations to special donor events.

    • Multi-channel engagement: reaching donors through their preferred communication channels, such as email, SMS, or social media.

    • Loyalty programmes: rewarding frequent donors with exclusive merchandise, discounts or special recognition, based on individual donor preferences and donation history.

    • Gamification: using game-like elements to make communication and the donation process more engaging and fun, using challenges, leaderboards and badges to motivate donors and foster a sense of community.

    • Predictive analytics: using data history and past events to establish donor patterns and predicts future outcomes. This data can be used to identify donors who might lapse and reach out to them with personalised communication.

    Relebohiseng Matubatuba 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. South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers – https://theconversation.com/south-africans-dont-donate-enough-blood-technology-can-help-drive-the-numbers-251827

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Winners of Inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards Showcase East Coast Excellence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HALIFAX, Canada, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Canada announced the winners of the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards at last night’s sold-out ceremony in Halifax. The event celebrated the region’s innovators, funders, adopters, and supporters collectively accelerating clean technology adoption, catalyzing economic resilience, and advancing net zero goals. This year’s award winners exemplify the region’s capability to turn visionary ideas into tangible progress.

    Driven by breakthroughs in ocean technology and increased adoption of renewable energy, the East Coast’s growing cleantech sector is well-positioned to increase efficiency and productivity of key industries and lead a more sustainable, economically prosperous future. In 2024 alone, the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), invested $72M in 166 cleantech projects, anticipated to generate 100,000 new clean energy jobs in Atlantic Canada by mid-century. This projected growth underscores the momentum of Atlantic Canada’s cleantech sector. Foresight Canada is proud to establish this new tradition on the East Coast, celebrating leaders whose dedication and ingenuity are shaping a resilient and sustainable economy.

    Meet the Winners

    Adopter of the Year: City of Summerside

    Summerside has emerged as a Canadian leader in community-driven sustainability. By expanding its smart grid, integrating renewable energy sources, and introducing innovative programs for energy efficiency and clean transportation, the city is paving the way toward a more sustainable future. Additionally, Summerside supports cleantech business growth through its Eco Park, a dedicated space that encourages clean economic development in the region.

    Supporter of the Year: Dalhousie University

    Researchers at Dalhousie University are developing clean, carbon-free technologies that will facilitate the transition to a more sustainable future. Their work encompasses engineering and commercializing innovative breakthroughs, including clean fuels, chemicals and materials, and long-life batteries for electric mobility. Dalhousie is playing a key role in advancing battery innovation through the establishment of Canada’s first university-based battery prototyping and testing facility, set to open in fall 2025.

    Funder of the Year: Carbon to Sea

    Carbon to Sea is the leading nonprofit evaluating ocean alkalinity enhancement for CO₂ removal at scale. Its work is aligned with key scientific bodies, such as IPCC and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. As the world’s foremost organization pursuing ocean alkalinity enhancement, Carbon to Sea funds exceptional researchers to close knowledge gaps and build a responsible sector.

    Startup Venture of the Year: pHathom Technologies

    pHathom is advancing a breakthrough carbon removal technology through its Accelerated Weathering of Limestone (AWL) process, which uses seawater and limestone to capture biogenic CO₂ while helping to reduce ocean acidification. The company aims to launch a commercial demonstration by 2027, with the potential to remove gigatons of carbon and unlock substantial revenue opportunities.

    Scaleup Venture of the Year: CarbonRun

    CarbonRun’s innovative river restoration method permanently removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and improves river health simultaneously. By adding limestone to rivers, they enhance natural carbon absorption and restore salmon habitats. With commitments from large corporate buyers for its credits, and a robust pipeline of projects that are being developed, CarbonRun is poised to make a major impact on global CDR goals.

    Learn more about all our 2025 Canada Cleantech Awards finalists and winners.

    Quotes

    “For the City of Summerside, being nominated for and receiving this award is like a boost of clean tech energy—fueling our momentum and reaffirming our path forward. Over the past 20 years, we’ve been deeply committed to validating and scaling solutions in the innovation and clean tech space. Along the way, we’ve learned that real progress takes a united effort—it takes a community to move mountains. The work we do with our partners can be complex, but it’s incredibly rewarding. By leveraging our infrastructure, collaborating with leading businesses, and cultivating a thriving ecosystem for change, Summerside is proud to lead and support Canada’s transition toward a sustainable future. Driving innovation, clean tech solutions and economic growth isn’t just our mission—it’s our passion.” — Mike Thususka, Director of Economic Development, City of Summerside

    “We are extremely honoured to be recognized by the Atlantic Canada Cleantech community. We are thankful for the support of our partners and the broader network in helping us get to this stage, and we hope to live up to your expectations by continuing to fight climate change while also restoring and enhancing the ecosystems we depend on.” — Dr. Halfyard, Co-Founder and CTO, CarbonRun

    “We’re capturing CO₂ right at the source and using natural ocean chemistry to lock it away safely for thousands of years. It’s high-integrity carbon removal, rooted in science, and it’s happening right here in Atlantic Canada. We’re honoured to accept this award and proud to be doing that work here, in a region that understands resilience, collaboration, and bold ideas.” — Kim Gilbert, CEO, pHathom Technologies

    “Nova Scotia’s growing reputation as a home for innovation makes it a great location to advance ocean climate science, and Carbon to Sea is proud to play a role in that. As the world grapples with the need to remove billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere safely in the coming decades, we look forward to deepening our work here. We’re grateful to Foresight for this recognition, and for all they do to support climate innovation across Canada.” — Miriam Zitner, Canadian General Manager, Carbon to Sea Initiative

    “A heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards! Your innovative spirit is propelling the region’s cleantech growth in exciting new directions. We celebrate your vision and look forward to witnessing the ecosystem thrive and the significant contributions you’ll make in transforming East Coast industries.” — Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada

    “Marking a pivotal moment, the first Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards celebrated the remarkable strength and innovation thriving within our region. The achievements of this year’s winners pave the way for a future where Atlantic Canada is a true leader in clean technology, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in East Coast innovation.” — Lindsay Murray, Sr. Manager, Partnerships, Foresight Canada

    About Foresight Canada

    ​​Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada’s largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.

    Contact:
    Heather Kingdon
    Manager, Communications
    hkingdon@foresightcac.com

    The Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards are presented by Foresight and Bloom Funding with support from Bonsai Growth, MNP, Springboard Atlantic, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Event hosted in partnership with Smart Energy Halifax.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c628c430-d0e3-4bef-905a-fd0639b1317d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why you should think twice before wearing outdoor shoes indoors

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Manal Mohammed, Senior Lecturer, Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster

    Wearing outdoor shoes indoors can bring in more than just a bit of dirt and blades of grass. Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    My mother has always had one unbreakable rule: no outdoor shoes inside the house. It didn’t matter who you were – family member, neighbour, or guest – you had to take them off before crossing the threshold. As a child, I thought it was just one of her many quirks. But as I’ve grown older (and wiser), I’ve come to understand that this wasn’t about obsessive tidiness. It was about health, safety and keeping our living space hygienic.

    Removing shoes indoors may seem like a cultural custom or a personal preference. But mounting scientific evidence suggests it’s a smart – and even vital – habit that protects us from invisible, yet serious, health threats.

    Cleanliness is often associated with visible dirt. But when it comes to shoes, what’s lurking beneath the surface is often microscopic and far more dangerous than a little mud or dried grass. Outdoor shoes carry bacteria, allergens and toxic chemicals – many of which are linked to serious health concerns.

    Consider where your shoes go each day: public toilets, pavements, hospital corridors and lawns treated with chemicals such as weed killers and insecticides to control weeds and pests. According to a University of Arizona study, a whopping 96% of shoes tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is commonly found in faecal matter. Disturbingly, 27% carried E. coli, a bacterium linked to various infections – some of them life-threatening.

    While some strains of E. coli are harmless, others produce Shiga toxin, which can cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal condition involving kidney failure. Children under five are especially at risk due to their still-developing immune systems and frequent hand-to-mouth activity.

    But E. coli isn’t the only germ hitching a ride into your living room. Shoes also pick up Clostridium difficile, a bacterium known for causing painful, sometimes severe diarrhea and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, a drug-resistant “superbug” that can cause deep skin infections, pneumonia, or even deadly bloodstream infections.

    Not just germs

    The health risks extend beyond bacteria. Shoes also act as carriers for chemicals and allergens. Studies have shown that outdoor footwear can bring in pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals like lead – all of which pose serious health risks, particularly to young children and pets.

    Lead exposure, often from urban dust or soil, is especially harmful to children, as it can impair brain development and cause lifelong cognitive issues. Additionally, allergens like pollen can cling to your soles, aggravating allergies and respiratory issues inside what should be a safe haven.

    Even more alarming, asphalt sealants used on driveways and roads contain carcinogenic compounds. A US study found that these chemicals can be tracked indoors and linger in household dust – sometimes at levels 37 times higher than outdoor levels.

    And who spends the most time closest to the ground? Children and pets. Kids crawl, play and often put their hands in their mouths. Pets lick their paws after walking on these contaminated surfaces. Wearing outdoor shoes indoors can unintentionally increase their exposure to harmful substances.

    Clean floors, healthy home

    Given the evidence, my mother’s rule doesn’t sound so unreasonable anymore. In fact, it might be one of the simplest and most effective public health measures you can adopt at home. By removing your shoes at the door, you’re not just preventing dirt from staining your carpet – you’re significantly reducing your family’s exposure to harmful microbes and chemicals.

    And it’s not difficult to do. Consider designating a shoe-free area by the entrance or maybe provide a shoe rack or basket and even a few pairs of comfy indoor slippers for guests. Asking someone to remove their shoes may feel awkward at first – but it’s easy to overlook how something as routine as walking into your house could carry such hidden risks.

    But when you realise the sheer volume of bacteria and toxic chemicals that cling to your soles, it becomes clear: wearing outdoor shoes indoors is like inviting the streets – and everything on them – into your most intimate living spaces.

    So, next time you come home, take a moment to slip off your shoes. Your floors – and your health – will thank you. As my mother always said, “Clean house, clear conscience”. Turns out, she was right all along.

    Manal Mohammed 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 you should think twice before wearing outdoor shoes indoors – https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-think-twice-before-wearing-outdoor-shoes-indoors-254427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning missions to study them up close

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Billy Bryan, Research Leader, RAND Europe

    NASA/ESA/STScI

    In late 2017, a mysterious object tore through our solar system at breakneck speed. Astronomers scrambled to observe the fast moving body using the world’s most powerful telescopes. It was found to be one quarter mile (400m) long and very elongated – perhaps 10 times as long as it was wide. Researchers named it ‘Oumuamua, Hawaiian for “scout”.

    ‘Oumuamua was later confirmed to be the first object from another star known to have visited our solar system. While these interstellar objects (ISO) originate around a star, they end up as cosmic nomads, wandering through space. They are essentially planetary shrapnel, having been blasted out of their parent star systems by catastrophic events, such as giant collisions between planetary objects.

    Astronomers say that ‘Oumuamua could have been travelling through the Milky Way for hundreds of millions of years before its encounter with our solar system. Just two years after this unexpected visit, a second ISO – the Borisov Comet – was spotted, this time by an amateur astronomer in Crimea. These celestial interlopers have given us tantalising glimpses of material from far beyond our solar system.

    But what if we could do more than just watch them fly by?

    Studying ISOs up close would offer scientists the rare opportunity to learn more about far off star systems, which are too distant to send missions to.

    There may be over 10 septillion (or ten with 24 zeros) ISOs in the Milky Way
    alone. But if there are so many of them, why have we only seen two? Put simply, we cannot accurately predict when they will arrive. Large ISOs like ‘Oumuamua, that are more easily detected, do not seem to visit the solar system that often and they travel incredibly fast.

    Ground- and space-based telescopes struggle to respond quickly to incoming ISOs, meaning that we are mostly looking at them after they pass through our cosmic neighbourhood. However, innovative space missions could get us closer to objects like ‘Oumuamua, by using breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) to guide spacecraft safely to future visitors. Getting closer means we can get a better understanding of their composition, geology, and activity – gaining insights into the conditions around other stars.

    Emerging technologies being used to approach space debris could help to approach
    other unpredictable objects, transforming these fleeting encounters into profound
    scientific opportunities. So how do we get close? Speeding past Earth at an average of 32.14 km/s, ISOs give us less than a year for our spacecraft to try and intercept them after detection. Catching up is not impossible – for example, it could be done via gravitational slingshot manoeuvres. However, it is difficult, costly and would take years to execute.

    The good news is that the first wave of ISO-hunting missions is already in motion:
    Nasa’s mission concept is called Bridge and the European Space Agency (Esa) has a mission called Comet Interceptor. Once an incoming ISO is identified, Bridge would
    depart Earth to intercept it. However, launching from Earth currently requires a 30-day launch window after detection, which would cost valuable time.

    The Comet Interceptor mission is scheduled to launch in 2029.
    ESA / Work performed by ATG under contract to ESA, CC BY-SA

    Comet Interceptor is scheduled for launch in 2029 and comprises a larger spacecraft and two smaller robotic probes. Once launched, it will lie in wait a million miles from Earth, waiting to ambush a long period comet (slower comets that come from further away) – or potentially an ISO. Placing spacecraft in a “storage orbit” allows for rapid deployment when a suitable ISO is detected.

    Another proposal from the Institute for Interstellar Studies, Project Lyra, assessed the feasibility of chasing down ‘Oumuamua, which has already sped far beyond Neptune’s orbit. They found that it would be possible in theory to catch up with the object, but that this would also be very technically challenging.

    The fast and the curious

    These missions are a start, but, as described, their biggest limitation is speed. To chase down ISOs like ‘Oumuamua, we’ll need to move a lot faster – and think smarter.

    Future missions may rely on cutting-edge AI and related fields such as deep learning – which seeks to emulate the decision making power of the human brain – to identify and respond to incoming objects in real time. Researchers are already testing small spacecraft that operate in coordinated “swarms”, allowing them to image targets from multiple angles and adapt mid-flight.

    At the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile, a 10-year survey of the night sky is due to begin soon. This astronomical survey is expected to find dozens of ISOs each year. Simulations suggest we may be on the cusp of a detection boom.

    Any spacecraft would need to reach high speeds once an object is spotted and
    ensure that its energy source doesn’t degrade, potentially after years waiting in
    “storage orbit”. A number of missions have already utilised a form of propulsion called a solar sail.

    These use sunlight on the lightweight, reflective sail to push the spacecraft through space. This would dispense with the need for heavy fuel tanks. The next generation of solar sail spacecraft could use lasers on the sails to reach even higher speeds, which would offer a nimble and low cost solution compared to other futuristic fuels, such as nuclear propulsion.

    The Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile should discover more interstellar objects.
    RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/Y. AlSayyad

    A spacecraft approaching an ISO will also need to withstand high temperatures and possibly erosion from dust being ejected from the object as it moves. While traditional shielding materials can protect spacecraft, they add weight and may slow them down.

    To address this, researchers are exploring novel technologies for lightweight, more durable and resistant materials, such as advanced carbon fibres. Some could even be 3D printed. They are also looking at innovative uses of traditional materials such as cork and ceramics.

    A suite of different approaches is needed that involve ground-based telescopes and space based missions, working together to anticipate, chase down and observe ISOs.

    New technology could allow the spacecraft itself to identify and predict the trajectories of incoming objects. However, potential cuts to space science in the US, including to observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope, threaten such progress.

    Emerging technologies must be embraced to make an approach and rendezvous with an ISO a real possibility. Otherwise, we will be left scrabbling, taking pictures from afar as yet another cosmic wanderer speeds away.

    Billy Bryan works on projects at RAND Europe that are funded by the UK Space Agency and DG DEFIS. He is affiliated with RAND Europe’s Space Hub and is lead of the civil space theme, the University of Sussex Students’ Union as a Trustee, and Rocket Science Ltd. as an advisor.

    Chris Carter works on projects at RAND Europe that are funded by the UK Space Agency and DG DEFIS. He is affiliated with RAND Europe’s Space Hub and is a researcher in the civil space theme.

    Theodora (Teddy) Ogden is a Senior Analyst at RAND Europe, where she works on defence and security issues in space. She was previously a fellow at Arizona State University, and before that was briefly at Nato.

    – ref. Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning missions to study them up close – https://theconversation.com/mysterious-objects-from-other-stars-are-passing-through-our-solar-system-scientists-are-planning-missions-to-study-them-up-close-254404

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Guaranteed Rate Affinity Names Bob Bachman Vice President of Mortgage Lending in Los Gatos, CA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Guaranteed Rate Affinity (GRA), a leading mortgage provider offering unparalleled lending services through its partnership with Coldwell Banker, has appointed Bob Bachman as Vice President of Mortgage Lending in Los Gatos, California.

    Bachman brings 23 years of mortgage industry experience to the role and has been a member of the President’s Council for the past decade. He chose to join Guaranteed Rate Affinity for its marketing and technology tools, which help loan officers stay engaged with past clients and maintain strong relationships with real estate professionals.

    “Joining Guaranteed Rate Affinity was an easy decision,” said Bachman. “I’ve been in the mortgage space for over two decades now, and the culture at GRA is by far the best at enabling loan officers and industry agents to grow their businesses together, while making the mortgage process easier than ever for customers.”

    “We look forward to Bob’s contributions to our team,” said Jim Anderson, Regional President of Guaranteed Rate Affinity. “He has built lasting relationships with clients and partners, and his experience will be valuable in serving borrowers throughout California.”

    Bachman, recognized as one of the leading loan specialists in Los Gatos and Santa Clara County, has built a successful career dedicated to helping clients navigate the lending process with confidence. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, equipping him with a strong analytical and problem-solving mindset that he applies to his work in the financial and real estate sectors. Actively engaged in the real estate community, Bachman remains committed to staying informed and connected to better serve his clients. and has built his career in the San Jose area. Outside of work, he enjoys an active lifestyle that includes boxing, golfing, skiing, and various outdoor activities, continually seeking new challenges both professionally and personally.

    About Guaranteed Rate Affinity

    Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Anywhere Integrated Services (NYSE: HOUS), which owns some of the industry’s most recognized and respected real estate brands. The innovative JV has funded over $100 billion in loans since its inception. Guaranteed Rate Affinity originates and markets its mortgage lending services to Anywhere’s real estate, brokerage, and relocation subsidiaries.

    Guaranteed Rate Affinity provides unmatched support to Anywhere brokers coast-to-coast, ensuring their customers receive fast pre-approvals, appraisals, and loan closings, creating the ability for buyers to move quickly and confidently when purchasing homes in today’s competitive market. The company also provides the same services to the public and other real estate brokerage and relocation companies across the country—helping employers improve their employees’ relocation experience by prioritizing customer service, digital mortgage ease, and competitive rates.

    Guaranteed Rate owns a controlling 50.1% stake in Guaranteed Rate Affinity, and Anywhere owns 49.9%. Visit grarate.com for more information.

    Media Contact:
    press@rate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LocatorX Tags Industry Trailblazer Tim Williams to Lead IoT Strategy and Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LocatorX, a trusted leader in secure supply chain visibility and IoT solutions, today announced Tim Williams as Vice President of IoT Strategy and Solutions. Williams will lead the company’s efforts to expand its IoT portfolio, drive sensor flexibility and scalability, and support enterprise adoption across key industries including defense, aerospace, and life sciences.

    Williams is a proven technology leader and serial entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling high-growth startups in the IoT and AdTech sectors. He was Co-Founder and CEO of NanoThings, an IoT startup that pioneered the development of smart label technology for real-time location tracking and temperature monitoring. NanoThings was successfully acquired in Q3 2024.

    In addition to NanoThings, Williams is also the Co-Founder of Nell, an IoT SaaS platform designed to simplify and streamline IoT device onboarding and deployment at scale. Prior to his IoT ventures, he co-founded Acquisition Labs, one of the earliest advertising platforms built atop Meta’s (Facebook) infrastructure, which was acquired within two years of launch. In his most recent role, he led the development of new connected label products for OnAsset Intelligence.

    “Tim’s entrepreneurial background and deep technical expertise in IoT will be instrumental in leading our next phase of innovation,” said Chester Kennedy, CEO of LocatorX. “His ability to identify market opportunities and deliver scalable, real-time solutions will be essential as we continue to shape the future of connected, secure supply chains for mission-critical industries.”

    “I am excited to join LocatorX at such a pivotal time. The team, cutting-edge technology, and the potential for growth made this an ideal opportunity to be part of something transformational,” said Williams. “With IoT adoption accelerating across these mission-critical industries, we can redefine what real-time visibility means and impact how the data aids in making the supply chain smarter, faster, resilient, and more secure.”

    The addition of Williams to the leadership team reinforces the company’s commitment to advancing the performance, scalability, and intelligence of IoT-driven visibility solutions for the supply chain.

    LocatorX ensures real-time visibility of mission-critical assets and connected insights that drive efficient processes across the supply chain. The company’s patented LX Digital Fingerprint, secure TAA-compliant IoT sensors, and visibility platform redefines how aerospace, defense, and government sectors track and manage critical assets. To learn more about LocatorX, visit www.locatorx.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98893ba4-f845-4ea9-9d2f-c9c90818d68e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Unlimited Expands ETF Lineup with New Global Macro Hedge Fund Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bob Elliott, CEO and CIO of Unlimited, today announced the launch of the Unlimited HFGM Global Macro ETF (NYSE: HFGM), a new actively managed exchange-traded fund offering exposure to global macro hedge fund style strategies. The Fund capitalizes on Mr. Elliott’s extensive experience as a systematic global macro portfolio manager by dynamically allocating capital long and short across a wide range of global markets opportunities in search of mispricing. The fund utilizes liquid exchange-listed futures contracts, and a basket of ETFs based upon systematic signals. The positions are adjusted based on evolving market conditions with the goal of adding diversification benefits to investors’ portfolios.

    HFGM seeks to capitalize on global market mispricing opportunities spanning currency, fixed income, equity, credit and exchange rate markets. Global macro managers have a long track record of generating consistent alpha with low correlation to the broader equity and fixed income markets. HFGM deploys Unlimited’s proprietary, data-driven technology to interpret the current positioning of global macro managers and replicate those positions in its own portfolio.

    The launch of HFGM expands on Unlimited’s mission to provide investors with access to hedge fund-style returns without the high fees and tax inefficiencies that can erode performance over time. Unlimited’s ETF offering includes the Unlimited HFND Multi-Strategy Return Tracker ETF (NYSE: HFND), which has a two-year track record of offering investors exposure to a broad set of hedge fund style strategies.

    “Financial advisors and institutional investors facing turbulent markets are looking for ways to diversify their portfolios, but many find the high fees, lack of liquidity and adverse tax treatment associated with traditional alts offerings untenable,” said Mr. Elliott. “Our Global Macro ETF was designed to offer a volatility target aligned with equity markets as an investor-friendly way to add the diversification features of alts to a balanced portfolio.”

    Hedge fund strategies overall have historically generated strong uncorrelated returns for investors, but high fees combined with inefficient tax structures have significantly eroded that performance.

    HFGM offers a transparent, liquid, and cost-effective alternative to traditional hedge fund allocations, carrying a lower expense ratio than the standard “2 and 20” hedge fund fee model.

    HFGM is the first of several new actively managed ETFs the firm plans to launch over the coming months. The suite includes two additional strategies that have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission with launch plans in the works for later this year, Unlimited HFMF Managed Futures ETF and Unlimited HFEQ Equity Long/Short ETF.

    Unlimited’s ETFs are managed by Mr. Elliott, former investment committee member at Bridgewater Associates and Bruce McNevin, co-founder and Chief Data Scientist at Unlimited. Mr. McNevin brings extensive experience in quantitative modeling and data science, having held positions at hedge funds Clinton Group and Midway Group, as well as Bank of America and BlackRock.

    For more information on HFGM or HFND, please visit https://www.unlimitedetfs.com

    Media Contacts:

    Sarah Lazarus Zach Kouwe
    Dukas Linden Public Relations Dukas Linden Public Relations
    +1 617-335-7823 +1 551-655-4032
    sarah@dlpr.com zkouwe@dlpr.com
       

    Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus. A prospectus may be obtained by visiting www.unlimitedetfs.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

    Important Risks

    Underlying ETFs Risks. The Fund will incur higher and duplicative expenses because it invests in Underlying ETFs. There is also the risk that the Fund may suffer losses due to the investment practices of the Underlying ETFs. The Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of securities held by the Underlying .ETFs.

    Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and may not meet its investment objective based on the Sub-Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund.

    Machine Learning, Model and Data Risk. The Fund relies heavily on proprietary “machine learning” selection processes. In addition, the composition of the Fund’s portfolio is heavily dependent on proprietary quantitative models as well as information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”).

    Volatility Risk. The Fund seeks to achieve a higher level of volatility than its target hedge fund industry sector, which may result in substantial price fluctuations over short periods. As a result, the value of the Fund’s investments may rise or fall significantly, and investors should be prepared for increased levels of volatility compared to traditional equity funds.

    Commodity Risk. Underlying ETFs that invest in the commodities markets may be subject to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

    Derivatives Risk. The Fund’s or an Underlying ETF’s derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets or index; the loss of principal, including the potential loss of amounts greater than the initial amount invested in the derivative instrument; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments.

    Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in Underlying ETFs that invest in securities issued by companies domiciled or headquartered in emerging market nations. Investments in securities traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to such securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, currency, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and investments in more developed international markets.

    Fixed Income Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in Underlying ETFs that invest in fixed income securities. The prices of fixed income securities may be affected by changes in interest rates, the creditworthiness and financial strength of the issuer and other factors. An increase in prevailing interest rates typically causes the value of existing fixed income securities to fall and often has a greater impact on longer-duration and/or higher quality fixed income securities.

    Foreign Securities Risk. Foreign securities held by Underlying ETFs in which the Fund invests involve certain risks not involved in domestic investments and may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. companies.

    Futures Contracts Risk. The Fund or Underlying ETFs may invest in futures contracts. Risks of futures contracts include: (i) an imperfect correlation between the value of the futures contract and the underlying asset; (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market; (iii) the inability to close a futures contract when desired; (iv) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which may be unlimited; (v) an obligation for the Fund or an Underlying ETF, as applicable, to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin, particularly at times when the Fund or Underlying ETF may have insufficient cash; and (vi) unfavorable execution prices from rapid selling.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Short Selling Risk. The Fund may make short sales of securities of Underlying ETFs, which involves selling a security it does not own in anticipation that the price of the security will decline. Short sales may involve substantial risk and leverage. Short sales expose the Fund to the risk that it will be required to buy (“cover”) the security sold short when the security has appreciated in value or is unavailable, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. Short sales also involve the risk that losses may exceed the amount invested and may be unlimited.

    Swap Agreement Risk. The Fund or an Underlying ETF may invest in swap agreements. Swap agreements could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses. They are also subject to counterparty risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund (or the Underlying Fund) may lose money.

    Definitions:

    20 and 2 strategy: Describes the standard fee structure charged by advisers of private funds, which generally includes a 2% asset-based management fee, in addition to a 20% performance fee charged on the profits on investments.

    Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava: What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Kitchen, Associate Professor of Geology, University of Richmond

    One of two main craters on Alaska’s Mount Spurr, shown in 1991. Earthquake activity suggests the volcano is close to erupting again in 2025. R.G. McGimsey/Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Geological Survey, CC BY

    Volcanoes inspire awe with spectacular eruptions and incandescent rivers of lava, but often their deadliest hazard is what quietly falls from the sky.

    When a large volcano erupts, as Mount Spurr appears close to doing about 80 miles from Anchorage, Alaska, it can release enormous volumes of ash. Fine ash can infiltrate the lungs of people and animals who breathe it in, poison crops and disrupt aquatic life. Thick deposits of ash can collapse roofs, cripple utilities and disrupt transport networks.

    Ash may lack the visual impact of flowing lava, but as a geologist who studies disasters, I’m aware that ash travels farther, lasts longer and leaves deep scars.

    Ash buried cars and buildings after the 1984 eruption of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.
    Volcano Hazards Program, U.S. Geological Survey

    Volcanic ash: What it is, and why it matters

    Volcanic ash forms when viscous magma – molten rock from deep beneath Earth’s surface – erupts, exploding into shards of rock, mineral and glass carried in a near-supersonic stream of hot gas.

    Towering clouds of ash rise several miles into the atmosphere, where the ash is captured by high-altitude winds that can carry it hundreds or even thousands of miles.

    As the volcanic ash settles back to Earth, it accumulates in layers that typically decrease in thickness with distance from the eruption source. Near the vent, the ash may be several feet deep, but communities farther away may see only a dusting.

    When Mount Spurr erupted in 1992, a dark column of ash and gas shot into the atmosphere from the volcano’s Crater Peak vent. Wind patterns determine where the ash will fall.
    U.S. Geological Survey

    Breathing danger: Health risks from ash

    Breathing volcanic ash can irritate the throat and lungs, trigger asthma attacks and aggravate chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD.

    The finest particles pose the greatest risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause death by asphyxiation in the worst cases. Mild, short-term symptoms often resolve with rest. However, the long-term consequences of ash exposure can include silicosis, a lung disease and a possible cause of cancer.

    The danger increases in dry regions where fallen ash can be kicked up into the air again by wind or human activity.

    Risks to pets and livestock

    Humans aren’t the only ones at risk. Animals experience similar respiratory symptoms to humans.

    Domestic pets can develop respiratory distress, eye inflammation and paw irritation from exposure to ash.

    Ash covers sheep in Argentina after the 2011 Puyehue volcanic eruption in Chile.
    Federico Grosso/U.S. Geological Survey

    Livestock face greater dangers. If grazing animals eat volcanic ash, it can damage their teeth, block their intestines and poison them.

    During the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, farmers were advised to shelter sheep and cattle because the ash contained fluoride concentrations above the recognized safety threshold of 400 parts per million. Animals that remained exposed became sick and some died.

    Harm to crops, soil and water

    Soil and crops can also be damaged. Volcanic ash alters the acidity of soil and introduces harmful elements such as arsenic and sulfur into the environment.

    While the ash can add nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus that enhance fertility, the immediate impact is mostly harmful.

    Ash can smother crops, block sunlight and clog the tiny stomata, or pores, in leaves that allow plants to exchange gases with the atmosphere. It can also introduce toxins that render food unmarketable. Vegetables, fruit trees and vines are particularly vulnerable, but even sturdy cereals and grasses can die if ash remains on leaves or poisons emerging shoots.

    Following the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, vast tracts of farmland in central Luzon in the Philippines were rendered unproductive for years due to acidic ash and buried topsoil. If multiple ashfalls occur in a growing season, crop failure becomes a near certainty. It was the cause of a historic famine that followed the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815.

    Ash from a 1953 eruption of Mount Spurr included very fine grains, like powder. The ash cloud reached about 70,000 feet high and left Anchorage under a blanket of ash up to a quarter-inch deep, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report at the time.
    James St. John via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
    Electron microscope images of ash show how sharp the shards are. The top left image of shards from Mount Etna in 2002 is 1 mm across. Top right is an ash particle from Mount St. Helens magnified 200 times. The shards in the lower images are less than 0.064 mm.
    Volcano Hazards Program, U.S. Geological Survey

    Ash can also contaminate surface water by introducing toxins and increasing the water’s acidity. The toxins can leach into groundwater, contaminating wells. Fine ash particles can also settle in waterways and smother aquatic plants and animals. During the 2008 Chaitén eruption in Chile, ash contamination led to widespread fish deaths in the Río Blanco.

    Ash can ground airplanes, gum up infrastructure

    Ash clouds are extremely dangerous to aircraft. The glassy ash particles melt when sucked into jet turbines, clog fuel systems and can stall engines in midair.

    In 1982, British Airways Flight 9 lost power in all four engines after flying through an ash cloud. A similar incident occurred in 1989 to KLM Flight 867 over Alaska. In 2010, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption grounded more than 100,000 flights across Europe, disrupting travel for over 10 million passengers and costing the global economy billions of dollars.

    Volcanic ash can also wreak havoc on infrastructure by clogging water supplies, short-circuiting electrical systems and collapsing roofs under its weight. It can disrupt transportation, communication, rescue and power networks, as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines dramatically demonstrated.

    What to do during ashfall

    During an ashfall event, the most effective strategy to stay safe is to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid inhaling ash particles.

    Anyone who must go outside should wear a properly fitted N95 or P2 mask. Cloth masks provide little protection against fine ash. Rainwater tanks, troughs and open wells should be covered and monitored for contamination. Livestock should be moved to clean pastures or given uncontaminated fodder.

    The challenges Alaska is facing if Mount Spurr erupts.

    To reduce structural damage, ash should be cleared from roofs and gutters promptly, especially before rainfall.

    Older adults, children and people who are sick are at greatest risk, particularly those living in poorly ventilated homes. Rural communities that are dependent on agriculture and livestock are disproportionately affected by ashfall, as are low-income people who lack access to clean water, protective masks or safe shelter.

    Communities can stay informed about ash risks through official alerts, including those from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, which monitor ash dispersion and issue timely warnings. The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network also offers guidelines on personal protection, emergency planning and ash cleanup.

    The long tail of ash

    Volcanic ash may fall quietly, but its effects are widespread, persistent and potentially deadly. It poses a chronic threat to health, agriculture, infrastructure and aquatic systems.

    Recognizing the risk is a crucial first step to protecting lives. Effective planning and public awareness can further help reduce the damage.

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

    – ref. Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava: What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt – https://theconversation.com/volcanic-ash-is-a-silent-killer-more-so-than-lava-what-alaska-needs-to-know-with-mount-spurr-likely-to-erupt-254461

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Kominoski, Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University

    The Everglades has often been referred to as a vast river of grass. National Park Service/B.Call via Flickr

    Do you know where your drinking water comes from?

    In South Florida, drinking water comes from the Everglades, a vast landscape of wetlands that has long filtered the water relied on by millions of people.

    But as the Everglades has shrunk over the past century, the region’s water supply and water quality have become increasingly threatened, including by harmful algal blooms fueled by agriculture runoff. Now, the water supply faces another rising challenge: saltwater intrusion.

    Waterways cut through the Everglades.
    South Florida Water Management District/Flickr, CC BY-ND

    Protecting South Florida’s water hinges on restoring the Everglades. That’s why, 25 years ago, the federal government and universities launched the world’s largest ecosystem restoration effort ever attempted.

    I’m involved in this work as an ecosystem ecologist. The risks I see suggest continuing to restore the Everglades is more crucial today than ever.

    What happened to the Everglades?

    The Florida Everglades is a broad mosaic of fresh water, sawgrass marshes, cypress domes and tree islands, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows all connected by water.

    But it is half its original size. In the early 1900s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began installing canals and levees to control flooding in the Everglades, which allowed people to build farms and communities along its edges. The Tamiami Trail became the first road across the Everglades in 1928. It connected Tampa to Miami, but the road and canals cut off or diverted some of the natural water flow in South Florida.

    Maps show how the Everglades changed over time. Source: USGS.

    Since then, Florida’s economy, agriculture and population have exploded – and with them has come a nutrient pollution problem in the Everglades.

    The major crop, sugarcane, is grown in a region south of Lake Okeechobee covering 1,100 square miles that’s known as the Everglades Agricultural Area. Nearly 80 tons of phosphorus fertilizer from federally subsidized farm fields runs off into the Everglades wetlands each year. And that has become a water quality concern. Drinking water with elevated nitrogen is linked to human health problems, and elevated phosphorus and associated algal blooms can cause microbes to accumulate toxins such as mercury.

    Healthy wetlands can filter out those nutrients and other pollutants, cleaning the water.

    Some of the ways the Everglades filters water contaminated with phosphorus.
    South Florida Water Management District

    Rain falling in the Everglades percolates through the porous limestone and recharges the Biscayne Aquifer, which supplies drinking water for 1 in 3 Floridians.

    But wetlands need time and space to function properly, and the damage from farm pollution has harmed that natural filtering system.

    By the 1990s, Everglades wetlands and the wildlife they support hit a critical stress level from elevated concentrations of phosphorus, a nutrient in fertilizer that washes off farm fields and fuels the growth of toxic algal blooms and invasive species that can choke out native plant populations.

    The changes led to seagrass die-offs and widespread invasion of sawgrass marshes by cattail and harmful algal blooms. Degraded wetlands can themselves become pollution sources that can contaminate surface water and groundwater quality by decreasing oxygen in the water, which can harm aquatic life, and releasing chemicals and nutrients as they decay.

    A vast restoration campaign

    Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan in 2000 to support reducing phosphorus concentrations by recreating large wetlands areas to remove excess nutrients and reestablishing more of the natural water depth to bolster native populations.

    That restoration effort is making progress in reconnecting wetlands to natural water flows by rehydrating large areas that were cut off. Phosphorus levels are lower in many wetlands that now remain hydrated longer, and in these wetlands fresh water is recharging the aquifer, helping sustain the drinking water supply.

    However, delays in critically important components of that work have left some wetlands in degraded conditions for longer than expected, especially in regions near and downstream of the Everglades Agricultural Area, where phosphorus concentrations remain stubbornly high.

    An algal bloom spreads in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, at the heart of the Everglades.
    Nicholas Aumen/USGS

    South Florida continues to experience harmful algal blooms from phosphorus reaching rivers and the coast, resulting in fish kills and the deaths of manatees. Red tide can shut down fishing and keep beach-going tourists away, harming local economies. This pollution is estimated to have cost Florida’s economy US$2.7 billion in 2018.

    The unexpected risk: Saltwater

    An unforeseen threat has also started to creep into the Everglades: saltwater.

    As sea level rises, saltwater reaches further inland, both in rivers and underground through the porous limestone beneath South Florida. Saltwater intrusion also occurs when wells draw down aquifers to provide water for drinking or irrigation. That saltwater is causing parts of the Everglades marshes, often referred to as a river of grass, to collapse into open water.

    Saltwater intrusion into South Miami and how Everglades restoration can help. Source: Emily Northrop and Rachael Johnson, University of Miami.
    The red line shows how far saltwater had intruded into aquifers beneath Fort Lauderdale as of 2019.
    South Florida Water Management District

    The loss of these freshwater marshes reduces the capacity of the Everglades to remove phosphorus from the water. And that means more nutrients flowing downstream, contaminating aquifers and causing harmful algal blooms to form in coastal waters.

    Scientists have learned that marsh plants need freshwater pulses during the wet season, from April to November, to avoid saltwater intrusion.

    For example, saltwater intruded about one mile inland between 2009 and 2019 in parts of the Fort Lauderdale area. More fresh water is needed to push the saltwater back out to sea.

    However, the restoration effort was never intended to combat saltwater intrusion.

    Reasons for optimism

    Despite the continuing challenges, I am optimistic because of how scientists, policymakers and communities are working together to protect the Everglades and drinking water.

    I lead part of that restoration work through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program. The effort started at Florida International University on May 1, 2000, the same year the Everglades restoration plan was authorized by Congress.

    Our research was used to set the levels of nutrients allowable to still protect the region’s water supplies, and we have been working for 25 years to reduce saltwater intrusion and phosphorus pollution to ensure drinking water for South Florida remains both fresh and clean. We continually use our research to inform water managers and policymakers of the best practices to reduce saltwater intrusion and pollution.

    A roseate spoonbill hunts for dinner in Everglades National Park.
    National Park Service, R. Cammauf, via Flickr

    As saltwater intrusion continues to threaten South Florida’s freshwater aquifer, Everglades restoration and protection will be increasingly important.

    Everyone in the region can help.

    By rehabilitating degraded wetlands, allowing for more fresh water to flow throughout the Everglades ecosystems, reducing the use of fresh water on lawns and crops, and reusing municipal water for outdoor needs, South Florida can keep its drinking water safe for generations of future residents and visitors. This is something that everyone can contribute to.

    Mangroves along Turner River in the Everglades.
    Chauncey Davis/Flickr, CC BY

    Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Miami’s renowned conservationist who helped establish the Everglades National Park, often said, “The Everglades is a test. If we pass it, we may get to keep the planet.”

    John Kominoski works for Florida International University. He receives funding from federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. 25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising – https://theconversation.com/25-years-of-everglades-restoration-has-improved-drinking-water-for-millions-in-florida-but-a-new-risk-is-rising-253167

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Preventive care may no longer be free in 2026 because of HIV stigma − unless the Trump administration successfully defends the ACA

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kristefer Stojanovski, Assistant Professor of Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences, Tulane University

    Americans may lose free coverage for cancer and blood pressure screenings, HIV prevention medication and other essential services. Halfpoint Images/Moment via Getty Images

    Many Americans were relieved when the Supreme Court left the Affordable Care Act in place following the law’s third major legal challenge in June 2021. This decision permitted widely supported policies to continue, such as ensuring health coverage regardless of preexisting conditions, allowing coverage for dependents up to age 26 on their parents’ plan, and removing annual and lifetime benefit limits.

    But millions are still at risk of losing access to lifesaving medicine and preventive services, following the Supreme Court’s decision to hear another case – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. v. Braidwood – that has been working its way through lower courts for several years.

    Interestingly, the Trump administration has chosen to build upon the same argument the Biden administration used to defend the law.

    HIV stigma and preventive care

    The case the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear in April 2025 was filed by Braidwood Management, a Christian for-profit corporation owned by Steven Hotze, a Texas physician and Republican activist who has previously filed multiple lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act.

    Braidwood and its co-plaintiffs, a group of conservative Christian employers, objected to providing their 70 employees free access to preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a medicine that prevents HIV infection. Hotze claimed that PrEP “facilitates and encourages homosexual behavior, intravenous drug use and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman,” without citing scientific evidence to support this. He and his plaintiffs argue that religious beliefs prevent them from providing PrEP under their insurance plans.

    The AIDS epidemic has been claiming lives for decades.

    Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s, the disease has been politicized and stigmatized. Because it had predominantly affected men who had sex with men, AIDS was initially called gay-related immune deficiency, making people reluctant to be associated with the disease. It was only after a teenage boy from Indiana named Ryan White contracted HIV from a blood transfusion to treat his hemophilia, along with public statements from high-profile celebrities such as Arthur Ashe and Magic Johnson about their HIV status, that social attitudes began to shift with more education about AIDS.

    Yet, the same stigma is still at play in the Braidwood case and other recent policy decisions. In 2023, for example, Tennessee officials declined US$9 million in federal funding for HIV prevention. Those federal funds focused on groups most affected by HIV, including men who have sex with men, heterosexual Black women and people who inject drugs.

    Tennessee has since transitioned to using state dollars for HIV prevention, with a focus on first responders, pregnant women and sex trafficking survivors, groups that aren’t major at-risk populations. Researchers have found that this pivot will be a less efficient use of funds, costing $1 million per life-year saved versus $68,600 when focusing on the most at-risk populations.

    Preventive care and the Affordable Care Act

    The ongoing stigma and politicization of HIV/AIDS may not only hamper the national goal of ending the HIV epidemic but also lead to less or no preventive care for many people.

    Section 2713 of the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to offer full coverage of preventive services endorsed by one of three federal groups: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the Health Resources and Services Administration. For example, the CARES Act, which allocated emergency funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, used this provision to ensure COVID-19 vaccines would be free for many Americans.

    For a preventive service to be covered by this provision, it requires an A or B rating from the Preventive Services Task Force, an independent body of experts trained in research methods, statistics and medicine that evaluates the rigor and quality of available scientific evidence, with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Vaccinations require a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while women’s health services require approval from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

    PrEP received an A rating in June 2019, given its near 100% effectiveness. This paved the way for it to be covered at no cost for millions of people.

    PrEP is a key tool to helping the U.S. reach its goal of substantially reducing new HIV infections by 2030.
    AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

    Over 150 million Americans with private health insurance are able to benefit from free preventive care through the Affordable Care Act, with around 60% using at least one free preventive service each year.

    The consequences of losing these benefits would likely be an increase in the number of people getting and dying from preventable diseases. Raising the cost barrier for PrEP, for example, would disproportionately harm younger patients, people of color and those with lower incomes. It will also increase the cost of HIV prevention.

    As public health researchers who study sexual health and health insurance, we believe that prevention and health equity in the U.S. stand to take a big step backward, depending on the outcome of the Braidwood case.

    Future of preventive care lies with Supreme Court

    The most recent ruling in Braidwood – made by a lower court in 2023 – focuses on the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which specifies that certain governmental positions require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation, while other positions have a lower bar.

    District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that because the Preventive Services Task Force is an independent volunteer panel and not made up of officers of the U.S. government, it does not have appropriate authority to make decisions about what preventive care should be free, unlike the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or Health Resources and Services Administration. O’Connor also ruled that being forced to cover PrEP violated the religious freedom of the plaintiffs.

    O’Connor invalidated all of the task force’s recommendations since the Affordable Care Act was passed in March 2010, returning the power to insurers and employers to decide which, if any, preventive care would remain free to their patients. A few of the recommendations affected by his ruling besides PrEP include blood pressure, diabetes, lung and skin cancer screenings, along with medications to lower cholesterol and reduce breast cancer risk.

    The Trump administration filed a brief continuing the argument from the Biden administration that because the Preventive Services Task Force is overseen by the secretary of Health and Human Services, there is appropriate oversight of the task force and its decision-making by a Senate-confirmed officer. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for April 21, 2025.

    The Affordable Care Act has faced many legal challenges over the years.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    Insurance contracts are typically defined by calendar year, so if the Supreme Court rules against the government, people would likely see changes starting in 2026. Importantly, these services will likely still need to be covered by health insurance plans as essential health benefits through a separate provision of the ACA − they just won’t be free anymore.

    There were concerns that the Supreme Court could take the ruling even further, endangering the free coverage of contraception and other preventive care that wasn’t covered by the lower court ruling. The Trump administration’s support for the case may make this less likely by leaning into the authority of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary to support or override recommendations made by the Preventive Services Task Force and the other bodies.

    However, this could also mean the secretary of HHS can more directly control the task force’s recommendations, potentially determining whether PrEP, contraception and other services are available at no cost to patients. Building more political authority into the process − as well as partisan differences in support for LGBTQ+ health − belies the original intent of having nonpartisan medical experts make decisions about preventive care coverage. Legal experts we have spoken to caution that this approach may be more about preserving powers for the executive branch rather than actually protecting preventive care.

    All of this is happening in the context of massive layoffs at HHS. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which supports the Preventive Services Task Force, was not spared from the recent cuts. It is unclear how all of this will affect the task force’s ability to continue its work, separate from the outcome of Braidwood.

    One way or another, the end to this yearslong case is nearing, with important implications for America’s ability to reach its goals in fighting cancer, diabetes and the HIV epidemic.

    Portions of this article originally appeared in previous articles published on Sept. 7, 2021, Dec. 1, 2021, Sept. 13, 2022, and April 7, 2023.

    Paul Shafer receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Department of Veterans Affairs. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of these agencies or the United States government.

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

    – ref. Preventive care may no longer be free in 2026 because of HIV stigma − unless the Trump administration successfully defends the ACA – https://theconversation.com/preventive-care-may-no-longer-be-free-in-2026-because-of-hiv-stigma-unless-the-trump-administration-successfully-defends-the-aca-250011

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How bird flu differs from seasonal flu − an infectious disease researcher explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Hanna D. Paton, PhD Candidate in Immunology, University of Iowa

    There is currently no bird flu vaccine for people. Digicomphoto/ Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    The flu sickens millions of people in the U.S. every year, and the past year has been particularly tough. Although infections are trending downward, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called the winter of 2024-2025 a “high severity” season with the highest hospitalization rate in 15 years.

    Since early 2024, a different kind of flu called bird flu, formally known as avian influenza, has been spreading in birds as well as in cattle. The current bird flu outbreak has infected 70 Americans and caused two deaths as of April 8, 2025. Public health and infectious disease experts say the risk to people is currently low, but they have expressed concern that this strain of the bird flu virus may mutate to spread between people.

    As a doctoral candidate in immunology, I study how pathogens that make us sick interact with our immune system. The viruses that cause seasonal flu and bird flu are distinct but still closely related. Understanding their similarities and differences can help people protect themselves and their loved ones.

    What is influenza?

    The flu has long been a threat to public health. The first recorded influenza pandemic occurred in 1518, but references to illnesses possibly caused by influenza stretch back as as early as 412 B.C., to a treatise called Of the Epidemics by the Greek physician Hippocrates.

    Today, the World Health Organization estimates that the flu infects 1 billion people every year. Of these, 3 million to 5 million infections cause severe illness, and hundreds of thousands are fatal.

    Influenza is part of a large family of viruses called orthomyxoviruses. This family contains several subtypes of influenza, referred to as A, B, C and D, which differ in their genetic makeup and in the types of infections they cause. Influenza A and B pose the largest threat to humans and can cause severe disease. Influenza C causes mild disease, and influenza D is not known to infect people. Since the turn of the 20th century, influenza A has caused four pandemics. Influenza B has never caused a pandemic.

    A notice from Oct. 18, 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic, about protecting yourself from infection.
    Illustrated Current News/National Library of Medicine, CC BY

    An influenza A strain called H1N1 caused the famous 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed about 50 million people worldwide. A related H1N1 virus was responsible for the most recent influenza A pandemic in 2009, commonly referred to as the swine flu pandemic. In that case, scientists believe multiple different types of influenza A virus mixed their genetic information to produce a new and especially virulent strain of the virus that infected more than 60 million people in the U.S. from April 12, 2009, to April 10, 2010, and caused huge losses to the agriculture and travel industries.

    Both swine and avian influenza are strains of influenza A. Just as swine flu strains tend to infect pigs, avian flu strains tend to infect birds. But the potential for influenza A viruses that typically infect animals to cause pandemics in humans like the swine flu pandemic is why experts are concerned about the current avian influenza outbreak.

    Seasonal flu versus bird flu

    Different strains of influenza A and influenza B emerge each year from about October to May as seasonal flu. The CDC collects and analyzes data from public health and clinical labs to determine which strains are circulating through the population and in what proportions. For example, recent data shows that H1N1 and H3N2, both influenza A viruses, were responsible for the vast majority of cases this season. Standard tests for influenza generally determine whether illness is caused by an A or B strain, but not which strain specifically.

    Officials at the Food and Drug Administration use this information to make strain recommendations for the following season’s influenza vaccine. Although the meeting at which FDA advisers were to decide the makeup of the 2026 flu vaccine was unexpectedly canceled in late February, the FDA still released its strain recommendations to manufacturers.

    The recommendations do not include H5N1, the influenza A strain that causes avian flu. The number of strains that can be added into seasonal influenza vaccines is limited. Because cases of people infected with H5N1 are minimal, population-level vaccination is not currently necessary. As such, seasonal flu vaccines are not designed to protect against avian influenza. No commercially available human vaccines currently exist for avian influenza viruses.

    How do people get bird flu?

    Although H5N1 mainly infects birds, it occasionally infects people, too. Human cases, first reported in 1997 in Hong Kong, have primarily occurred in poultry farm workers or others who have interacted closely with infected birds.

    Initially identified in China in 1996, the first major outbreak of H5 family avian flu occurred in North America in 2014-2015. This 2014 outbreak was caused by the H5N8 strain, a close relative of H5N1. The first H5N1 outbreak in North America began in 2021 when infected birds carried the virus across the ocean. It then ripped through poultry farms across the continent.

    The H5N1 strain of influenza A generally infects birds but has infected people, too.
    NIAID and CDC/flickr, CC BY

    In March 2024, epidemiologists identified H5N1 infections in cows on dairy farms. This is the first time that bird flu was reported to infect cows. Then, on April 1, 2024, health officials in Texas reported the first case of a person catching bird flu from infected cattle. This was the first time transmission of bird flu between mammals was documented.

    As of March 21, 2025, there have been 988 human cases of H5N1 worldwide since 1997, about half of which resulted in death. The current outbreak in the U.S. accounts for 70 of those infections and one death. Importantly, there have been no reports of H5N1 spreading directly from one person to another.

    Since avian flu is an influenza A strain, it would show up as positive on a standard rapid flu test. However, there is no evidence so far that avian flu is significantly contributing to current influenza cases. Specific testing is required to confirm that a person has avian flu. This testing is not done unless there is reason to believe the person was exposed to sick birds or other sources of infection.

    How might avian flu become more dangerous?

    As viruses replicate within the cells of their host, their genetic information can get copied incorrectly. Some of these genetic mutations cause no immediate differences, while others alter some key viral characteristics.

    Influenza viruses mutate in a special way called reassortment, which occurs when multiple strains infect the same cell and trade pieces of their genome with one another, potentially creating new, unique strains. This process prolongs the time the virus can inhabit a host before an infection is cleared. Even a slight change in a strain of influenza can result in the immune system’s inability to recognize the virus. As a result, this process forces our immune systems to build new defenses instead of using immunity from previous infections.

    Reassortment can also change how harmful strains are to their host and can even enable a strain to infect a different species of host. For example, strains that typically infect pigs or birds may acquire the ability to infect people. Influenza A can infect many different types of animals, including cattle, birds, pigs and horses. This means there are many strains that can intermingle to create novel strains that people’s immune systems have not encountered before – and are therefore not primed to fight.

    It is possible for this type of transformation to also occur in H5N1. The CDC monitors which strains of flu are circulating in order prepare for that possibility. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a surveillance system for monitoring potential threats for spillover from birds and other animals, although this capacity may be at risk due to staff cuts in the department.

    These systems are critical to ensure that public health officials have the most up-to-date information on the threat that H5N1 poses to public health and can take action as early as possible when a threat is evident.

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

    – ref. How bird flu differs from seasonal flu − an infectious disease researcher explains – https://theconversation.com/how-bird-flu-differs-from-seasonal-flu-an-infectious-disease-researcher-explains-248407

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A need for chaos powers some Americans’ support for Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the US government

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Dannagal G. Young, Professor of Communication and Political Science, University of Delaware

    There’s a sizable group of Americans who agree with the phrase ‘I think society should be burned to the ground.’ Anton Petrus-Moment/Getty Images

    A video of a Las Vegas Tesla dealership that had been set on fire by anti-Elon Musk protesters was posted on March 18, 2025, by an account on X called EndWokeness.

    The next day Musk replied to the post, “Some people just want to watch the world burn,” an iconic line from the 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight.” Alfred, the Wayne family’s faithful butler, says the line to Bruce Wayne – Batman – to describe the motivations behind the Joker’s chaotic acts of violence.

    Musk – and Alfred – was right. Some people do, in fact, say they think that society should be burned to the ground. It’s part of a psychological measure political psychologists created called “need for chaos.”

    New data from the Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware suggests that those people – the ones who want society to burn – are the ones with more, not less, trust in Musk. They also report more trust in the Department of Government Efficiency, the government entity Musk advises, which the Trump administration claims it created to cut government waste and fraud.

    Yet, critics point out that Musk and DOGE’s seemingly indiscriminate approach to spending cuts risks damaging the infrastructure necessary for American innovation.

    This desire to watch the world burn doesn’t come out of nowhere.

    Fear of losing status

    Somewhat like the Joker, whose perpetual sense of victimhood – “You wanna know how I got these scars?” – drove his need for chaos and destruction, people can develop a need for chaos in response to a sense that they are losing.

    When political psychologists introduced this concept of “need for chaos” in 2021, they described it not as a psychological trait, but as a character adaptation that occurs when some people experience a cultural and political situation that makes them feel like they are losing status and power. For some people, this feeling triggers a desire to “burn it all down” – “it” being society, institutions, the world – maybe to rebuild it all anew, or maybe just to see it all destroyed.

    Only a small percentage of the U.S. population – less than 15% – tends to score high in need for chaos. But even so, understanding this minority is important to gaining insight into this political moment.

    For example, people who score high in need for chaos exhibit greater support for political violence and a willingness to knowingly share hostile and false information online. And in our data, those higher in need for chaos report holding more trust in Musk, DOGE and Trump than people who score lower in the need for chaos measure.

    Who wants to burn it down

    We are political psychologists who study the link between psychological traits and political beliefs. Last month, the University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communication ran a national survey that we designed to understand where the public stands on various political issues and how those beliefs relate to psychological traits, including need for chaos.

    In our national study of 1,600 Americans conducted between Feb. 27-March 5, 2025, by YouGov, we asked respondents how much they agreed or disagreed with the following statements:

    • “I fantasize about a natural disaster wiping out most of humanity such that a small group of people can start all over”

    • “I think society should be burned to the ground”

    • “We cannot fix the problems in our social institutions; we need to tear them down and start over”

    • “I need chaos around me – it is too boring if nothing is going on”

    Similar to prior work by author Kevin Arceneaux and his colleagues, our data shows that a very small number – fewer than 20% of the sample – agrees strongly or agrees somewhat with each item.

    However, looking at need for chaos among groups of varying ages, education levels and media habits, we find the highest need for chaos scores among people under age 40, those with less education, and those who pay the least attention to politics.

    Burning it down through government policy

    Our new data also shows that while people highest in need for chaos report having more trust in Musk, DOGE, and President Trump, these chaos-seeking folks report having less trust in “people in general,” journalists or the federal government. These findings hold even when statistically accounting for other factors, among them party, race, gender, education and ideology.

    Musk’s penchant for wielding chainsaws as a symbol of DOGE’s work provides some insight into why chaos seekers may like what they see in Musk.

    It’s not clear exactly what Musk’s aim is with his work at DOGE, as he eliminates the jobs of hundreds of thousands of government workers.

    What is clear, however, is that by many accounts, the mass firings and the gutting of agencies, like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Institute for Peace, are sowing chaos. And a significant portion of Americans want just that.

    Dannagal G. Young receives funding from the Center for Political Communication Research Fund at the University of Delaware

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

    – ref. A need for chaos powers some Americans’ support for Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the US government – https://theconversation.com/a-need-for-chaos-powers-some-americans-support-for-elon-musk-taking-a-chainsaw-to-the-us-government-253420

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Ingersoll Rand Further Enhances Air Treatment Capabilities with Two Acquisitions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Execution of bolt-on acquisition strategy continues to enhance company’s durable financial profile by adding highly complementary products and capabilities focused on high-growth, sustainable end markets
    • Acquisitions will expand Ingersoll Rand’s product and technology portfolio with additional chiller and onsite gas generation offerings and support the company’s in-region for the region strategy
    • Acquisitions have a combined pre-synergy Adjusted EBITDA purchase multiple of high-single digits

    DAVIDSON, N.C., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ingersoll Rand Inc., (NYSE: IR) a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and life science and industrial solutions, has acquired G & D Chillers, Inc. (“G & D”) and Advanced Gas Technologies Inc. (“AGT”) for a combined purchase price of approximately $27 million to further grow the company’s air treatment portfolio.

    G & D, headquartered in the United States, builds premium glycol chillers to cool liquids, especially in applications requiring temperatures below freezing, like in breweries, wineries, and food processing. G & D expands Ingersoll Rand’s manufacturing, engineering, and Engineer to Order (ETO) capabilities for chillers in the North American market.

    AGT, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, is a custom designer and supplier of onsite gas generation systems serving industrial customers primarily in Canada. This acquisition adds new packaging capabilities and an established channel presence.

    G & D and AGT will both join the Industrial Technologies and Services segment (IT&S).

    “I would like to extend a warm welcome to the employees of G & D and AGT,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand. “Both are solid businesses with strong performance and growth potential backed by great teams. Their offerings in the air treatment space will be beneficial as we continually look for ways to better serve our customers.”

    About Ingersoll Rand Inc.

    Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to Making Life Better for our employees, customers, shareholders, and planet. Customers lean on us for exceptional performance and durability in mission-critical flow creation and life science and industrial solutions. Supported by over 80+ respected brands, our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity, and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to Ingersoll Rand Inc.’s (the “Company” or “Ingersoll Rand”) expectations regarding the performance of its business, its financial results, its liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “on track to” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “guidance” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements are based on Ingersoll Rand’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these current expectations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) adverse impact on our operations and financial performance due to natural disaster, catastrophe, global pandemics (including COVID-19), geopolitical tensions, cyber events or other events outside of our control; (2) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from completed and proposed business combinations; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company; (4) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of completed and proposed business combinations; (5) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; (6) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies; (7) inability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (8) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (9) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (10) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (11) other risk factors detailed in Ingersoll Rand’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

    Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Ingersoll Rand undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations:
    Matthew.Fort@irco.com

    Media:
    Sara.Hassell@irco.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: KRSU and Polytech: development through partnership

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An extended meeting dedicated to the development of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University was held at the Polytechnic University, with the participation of representatives of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

    The event was attended by the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy, the referent of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation Vadim Smirnov, the acting rector of KRSU Sergey Volkov, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia – the acting director of the Department of State Policy in Higher Education Elena Tumakova and the head of the department of the Department of International Cooperation Alexey Poyda, as well as the heads of key departments and institutes of the Polytechnic University involved in the implementation of projects to transform KRSU.

    Before the meeting, the participants summed up the results of the internship at SPbPU for the heads of KRSU educational programs. Kyrgyz colleagues presented projects for updating curricula in five areas.

    The meeting became a platform for summing up the interim results of cooperation and discussing plans for 2025. Since January of this year, SPbPU has been acting as the coordinator of development programs for all four Slavic universities. Particular attention is paid to KRSU, where the Polytechnic University helps to modernize engineering education, scientific activities and personnel potential. Over the course of a year of joint work, curricula have been revised, network programs and programs for improving the qualifications of teachers have been launched.

    The development of Russian-national (Slavic) universities is one of the priority projects of our country in the promotion of Russian education and culture. At present, we give special priority to working with the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, since we, as one of the leading technical universities in Russia, are faced with the task of assisting KRSU in building all the basic processes related to the development of engineering areas. This is education, science, human capital, – emphasized the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.

    Vice-Rector for International Activities Dmitry Arsenyev recalled that the active development of the project with KRSU began a year ago with the international forum in Bishkek, when SPbPU first began comprehensive expert work on the KRSU development program.

    Over the many years of work at the Polytechnic University, I cannot recall a larger-scale international project involving more than 200 key employees and specialists of the university, representing all leading institutes and basic divisions, noted Dmitry Arsenyev.

    Responsible SPbPU employees in the areas presented the main results of the past year – qualitative and quantitative results in key areas (educational activities, development of scientific potential, youth policy, distance technologies in education, interlibrary cooperation) and priority areas (construction, electronics and telecommunications, energy, ICT, lean manufacturing). The participants proposed specific plans for 2025 and identified the main problem areas.

    The ideas that we discussed just a year ago have proven to be correct, and this is encouraging. I would like to express my gratitude to the Polytechnic team. You have taken on the task as a team, each working in their own area. We believe that there will be results, commented Vadim Smirnov, aide to the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.

    The participants discussed the progress and development prospects of KRSU with the support of SPbPU, noted significant steps in joint work: modernization of educational programs, launch of network projects and strengthening of academic mobility. Vadim Smirnov emphasized the importance of a systematic approach to motivating KRSU employees and proposed integrating their participation in programs with the Polytechnic University into the incentive system.

    Participation in joint projects should become one of the key criteria for incentive payments. This will help strengthen engagement and demonstrate the value of interaction, said Vadim Smirnov.

    Acting Director of the Department of State Policy in Higher Education Elena Tumakova drew attention to the need for a comprehensive approach to motivating the teaching staff of KRSU, supporting the proposal to specifically encourage employees who are actively involved in projects with SPbPU.

    The participants discussed the low level of digital competencies of KRSU teachers, the lack of funding for scientific research and the difficulties with adapting Russian educational standards to the conditions of Kyrgyzstan. To solve them, proposals were made to strengthen internships, develop distance formats and more actively attract young specialists.

    Polytechnicians and KRSU management noted the task of renewing personnel as one of the main problems. Working with human potential, finding talents at KRSU is one of the primary tasks for the coming year. Acting Rector of KRSU Sergey Volkov emphasized that the key issue remains the transformation of KRSU into a leading national university. Enormous resources are being concentrated for this, including plans to build a modern campus in Bishkek, which will become a center for engineering, humanitarian and medical education.

    However, the best campus is nothing without highly qualified, motivated, talented staff and teachers. In the near future, KRSU will hold a competitive selection procedure. We expect to take a fresh look at our staff, taking into account the strategic long-term development goals of the university, – said Sergey Volkov.

    Andrey Rudskoy supported the initiative to strengthen work with human capital, instructed the Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova and the Head of the Directorate for Human Resources Maria Pakhomova to actively engage in this issue and provide expert support to KRSU in the upcoming competitive selection procedure.

    Speaking about the organization of scientific activities, Vadim Smirnov suggested focusing on several priority scientific and applied projects. For example, on comprehensive cooperation with the Alliance Altyn enterprise, which was discussed during recent visit. The second reference point could be a project to conduct interdisciplinary research based on the High-Mountain Observatory of Atmospheric Physics of KRSU. The combination of fundamental and applied tasks will allow achieving practical results and at the same time paving the way for future projects and scientific development.

    “Even small but significant successes will become the basis for future growth. Appreciate the Polytechnic University’s resources; consultations with such high-level experts are invaluable,” emphasized Vadim Smirnov. “Let’s focus on practical projects and measurable results. We need to accumulate success stories, even if they can be counted on the fingers of one hand, but they will become the basis for growth. We need to work together, not instead of. The task of becoming a leading university is difficult, but achievable. We see from the example of the Polytechnic University and other Russian universities what fantastic leaps can be made in a few years if strategic goals, a management system, and personnel work are correctly built. Responsibility, measurable goals, and a link to the strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic are what will bring KRSU forward. Fewer formalities, more specifics. If students go on internships, let them come back with projects. If we implement programs, we calculate the percentage of extra-budgetary funds. These are steps to ensure that the university begins not just to function, but to develop.”

    Special thanks to colleagues for their support in developing curricula and solving complex issues, such as program accreditation or working with personnel. Special thanks for the digital library: this is a breakthrough for us. Yes, there are challenges: scholarship provision, personnel policy, alignment of standards. But we are working on this: we hold weekly meetings, prepare for the forum, build a new campus on 30 hectares near Bishkek, where there will be three key clusters – engineering, humanitarian and medical. And these are not just buildings, but an opportunity for a scientific breakthrough, – noted Sergey Volkov.

    Vadim Smirnov highlighted the most important components of joint work for the coming year: It is necessary to combine the fundamental documents into a single end-to-end concept – the strategy and development program of KRSU, the roadmap (work plan) for the coming years. It is necessary to synchronize current work plans with the long-term goals of KRSU, add specific tasks and performance indicators. All these documents should complement each other, define the main goals and ensure their implementation through the corresponding recorded resources and activities.

    Participants expressed confidence that the unification of the resources of SPbPU and KRSU, as well as the focus on practice-oriented tasks, will accelerate the development of the university.

    There is an urgent need to link the roadmap, strategy and development program, providing them with resources. Financial support for network programs, motivation of teachers through incentives rather than punishment, and work on the university brand are key elements of progress. A brand is not just a name, it is a tool that helps attract applicants and create competitive advantages, especially in the conditions of tough competition. The solutions must be non-trivial, but they will raise the level, make education high-quality, and the university significant, – Elena Tumakova supported her colleagues.

    The participants agreed to finalize the roadmap taking into account the strategic goals of KRSU and to hold regular working meetings. Andrey Rudskoy expressed confidence that joint efforts will allow bringing the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University to a new level, strengthening the position of Russian education in Central Asia: The effectiveness of cooperation with Kyrgyzstan should not be based on directive methods, but on demonstrating specific successes – in education, science, interaction with society and industry. Our task is to create an environment where Kyrgyz students and scientists see the prospects for the development of their country through synergy with Russian practices. KRSU can become a model platform where strategies are tested that can be scaled to other Slavic universities. However, the key condition is the balance between tactical steps and a long-term vision, where personnel, science and education work for the benefit of both countries, strengthening not only professional but also humanitarian ties.

    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: Repurposing a blood pressure drug may prevent vision loss in inherited blinding diseases

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Tuesday, April 15, 2025

    NIH studies in animals show reserpine protects retinal-neurons necessary for vision, especially in females.

    New studies in rats suggest the drug reserpine, approved in 1955 for high blood pressure, might treat the blinding disease retinitis pigmentosa. No therapy exists for this rare inherited disease, which starts affecting vision from childhood. A report on the studies, conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), published today in eLife.
    “The discovery of reserpine’s effectiveness may greatly speed therapeutics for retinitis pigmentosa and many other inherited retinal dystrophies, which can be caused by one of more than a thousand possible mutations affecting more than 100 genes. Reserpine’s neuroprotective effect is independent of any specific underlying gene mutation,” said the study’s lead investigator, Anand Swaroop, Ph.D., senior investigator at NIH’s National Eye Institute.
    Inherited retinal dystrophies cause degeneration of the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. Vision loss can be present at birth or develop later in early adulthood. Disease progression varies depending on the gene involved. Some genetic defects may be inherited as dominant, where a mutation in just one of the two copies of the gene (one each from the mother and father) is sufficient to cause vision loss. Other genetic defects are recessive, where both copies of a gene must carry a mutation to cause vision loss. Gene therapies to correct inherited retinal dystrophies are promising, but take a long time to develop, are gene specific, and are often quite expensive.
    The findings are the latest evidence that reserpine improves survival of photoreceptor cells, the light-detecting retinal neurons that die in retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal dystrophies. In 2023, the Swaroop Lab demonstrated reserpine’s potential for preventing vision loss from LCA10, a retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the CEP290 gene.
    In its latest work, Swaroop’s team tested reserpine in a rat model of a dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa caused by a mutation in the visual pigment gene rhodopsin. This disease mutation is common in Irish Americans with retinitis pigmentosa. Compared to untreated rats, reserpine preserved the process by which photoreceptors convert light that enters the eye into electrical signals that are sent to the brain to produce vision, known as phototransduction, in retinal cells called rod photoreceptors. Rod photoreceptors enable low-light vision; cone photoreceptors enable color vision in bright light.
    Unexpectedly, reserpine better protected rod photoreceptors in female rats compared to males. The scientists also observed significant preservation of cone photoreceptors in female rats compared to male rats.
    “We can only speculate about these sex-specific differences. However, future research would benefit from teasing out these differences and understanding them to lay a foundation for personalized approaches to retinal disease therapy,” Swaroop said.
    Swaroop’s lab is developing additional, and more potent reserpine-related drugs. The idea would be to use such options to treat late-onset or slowly progressing inherited retinal dystrophies or to simply stall vision loss in aggressive retinitis pigmentosa varieties until more effective treatments are developed that can reverse that vision loss.
    Reserpine is no longer used for treating high blood pressure because of its side effects. The required dosage for treating retinal degeneration, however, would be very low and directly delivered in the eye. Reserpine is a small molecule therapy, which makes it easy to deliver to target tissues in the eye.
    This work was supported by the NEI Intramural Research Program. 
    NEI leads the federal government’s research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.    
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    References
    Song HB, Campello L, Mondal AK, Chen HY, English MA, Glen M, Vanlandingham P, Farjo R, Swaroop A. “Sex-specific attenuation of photoreceptor degeneration by reserpine in a rhodopsin P23H rat model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa”. PUBLISHED DATE HERE eLife14:RP103888 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.103888.1

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Groundbreaking Work Reaffirms UConn’s Excellence in Laser Research

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    From studying the mysterious fabric of our universe to advancing quantum computing to enabling communication over vast distances, ultrafast laser technologies drive advancements across many fields and applications. New research is taking lasers – and UConn – further.

    UConn Department of Physics researchers – including lead author and Ph.D. student Kevin Watson, research faculty Tobias Saule, Professor Carlos Trallero, Professor and member of the National Academy of Science Nora Berrah, Professor and Department Head George Gibson, and their co-authors – have broken new ground by achieving higher peak power and average power in optical pulses than ever before with a novel class of lasers. Their findings are published in Optica.

    Trallero says this research studies how lasers with high peak power and high average power interact with molecular gas. The high peak and average powers mean each laser pulse, though quick, is very intense.

    “As a laser propagates, it interacts non-linearly with the molecules, and in doing so, it creates new frequency components,” he says.

    Trallero explains these newly created components allow researchers to alter other qualities of the laser pulse, such as making the pulses shorter in duration.

    “Before this paper was published, the established knowledge was that for very intense lasers, the repetition of the laser pulses could not be too high, because what happens is they would heat up the molecules too much, and in doing so, the laser would stop targeting the molecules in such a way that would allow it to add more frequencies,” says Trallero.

    The world record for using nitrogen molecular gas to broaden these pulses was around 20 watts of average power. However, with this research, Trallero and his collaborators were able to break new ground and increase the pulses by more than a factor of ten to 250 watts.

    “We prove that not only can we increase this, but that we are not limited by how many pulses in time we have, but that the limitation is really the structure of the molecule,” says Trallero. “As long as the pulses have a certain pulse duration, we can propagate these very intense pulses through any gas. The limitation is not the power of the laser but the relationship between the short pulses and the structure of the molecules we are propagating through, in particular, the role of the rotational and vibrational structure. This is kind of a big deal.”

    This research could help advance the use of high-power lasers in applications ranging from defense to long-range communication, and the authors believe it will inform future directed energy research.

    “All of these lasers carry what we call directed energy. For example, if you want to direct energy for communication, say from here to Mars, you have to go through Earth’s atmosphere, then Mars’s atmosphere,” says Trallero. “That’s a lot of molecular gases, and you don’t want those lasers to change too much. Knowing how these powerful lasers can propagate is relevant knowledge for a lot of things.”

    This project has been in the making for many years, and the purchase of the state-of-the-art laser was made possible with money from a grant from the CLAS Research Equipment Funding Program and a collaboration between UConn, Few-cycle,  Amphos, and the TRUMPF Group. Though progress was initially stalled by the pandemic and the challenges of working across three countries, the collaboration has been making great strides since. In January, Trallero and collaborators met with the TRUMPF Americas group, to demonstrate this new research and explore a formal joint research agreement with UConn. This collaboration links UConn researchers and students with TRUMPF, which is one of the largest lasers companies in the world.

    “I think it shows that we can do great things with these world-class lasers, and here at UConn, we have people who are extremely well recognized in this field, which helps put UConn on the map for sure,” says Trallero.

    The partnership solidifies UConn’s position as a world-class laser research institution and helps ensure UConn students are well-connected to industry opportunities both before and after they graduate. Trallero points out that there are many other UConn researchers who are prominent in the optics field, including Berrah and Dean of the College of Engineering Ji-Cheng ‘JC’ Zhao.

    As a pioneer in the field, Trallero and his research group are busy putting the technology to the test for both applied and fundamental research. One project funded by the Department of Energy is at the most fundamental level, where the researchers are attempting to capture three-dimensional movies of electron motion in molecules in real-time.

    Trallero’s group is also utilizing a technique called attosecond interferometry in which very short laser pulses can interfere with one another. This interference allows for very precise measurements between molecules in each wave taken at the attosecond time scale.

    “The laser pulses are extremely short,” says Trallero. “I like to use the comparison used for the 2023 Nobel Prize in physics. If you think about a second, and you think about the entire life of the universe, of roughly 13 and a half billion years, there have been as many seconds in the entire history of the universe as there are attoseconds in one second. In my lab we have not just one attosecond pulse, we have two. We can interfere them, and that interference gives us access to the zeptosecond time scale which is 10 to the minus 21 seconds. With this new laser, we are hopeful that we can break the 10 to the minus 24 seconds, or yactoseconds.”

    Trallero says it can be hard to wrap one’s mind around these incredibly tiny timeframes. However, this fundamental knowledge, coupled with strong ties to industry giants, has massive potential to push the boundaries of innovation.

    Gibson is very enthusiastic about this research and says,

    “When I first came to UConn in 1993, I designed and built the first high-repetition rate femtosecond laser in Connecticut, as they were not yet commercially available. It is very gratifying to see how UConn has continued to lead in this field with the arrival of Professor Berrah and then Professor. Trallero. They have each broken new ground in ultrafast physics and technology, making UConn an internationally recognized center for ultrafast science.”

    This work was made possible with funding from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-21-1-0387); Office of Naval Research (N00014-18-1-2872, N00014-19-1-2339); Basic Energy Sciences (DE-SC0024508), US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, & Biosciences Division, the Directed Energy Professional Society, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Connecticut.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Junior Noonan Named Goldwater Scholar

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    University of Connecticut junior Caitlin Noonan ’26 (ENG), a chemical engineering major, has been named a Goldwater Scholar. The Goldwater Scholarship is considered the nation’s premier scholarship for undergraduates studying math, natural sciences, and engineering.

    The Goldwater Scholarship was established by Congress to honor the late U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, with the purpose of identifying students of outstanding ability and promise and encouraging them to pursue advanced study and research careers. Scholars receive one- or two-year awards that cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Noonan is among just 441 students selected nationally for the award this year from a pool of more than 5,000 applicants.

    “I learned a lot about myself during the application process because it allowed me to reflect on my career goals and aspirations,” says Noonan, who grew up on Long Island but now resides in Storrs. “It was fun to learn how to tell my story in a way that was polished and coherent. It made me feel proud.”

    Caitlin Noonan ’26 (ENG) works at her work station in UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering in the Mansfield Depot campus on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

    Following graduation, Noonan hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in chemical engineering, specializing in environmental pollutant adsorption to reduce climate change. She would like to eventually be a tenured faculty member at an R1 research institution.

    She began her research work as a high school student and has always been focused on environmental issues. Noonan has a passion for carbon dioxide removal and turning food waste into activated carbon absorbents to remove carbon dioxide from the air.

    “Growing up on Long Island, we were surrounded by a lot of water and I always had to use a water filter because I was worried about chemicals,” says Noonan.

    Noonan finished first at the 2023 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Student Conference for her research poster presentation in both the overall Environmental Division and Environmental Division One.

    Noonan took part in a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the summer of 2023. She studied the desulfurization of liquid hydrocarbon fuels using food waste-derived activated carbon.

    “What truly distinguishes Caitlin is her remarkable intellectual autonomy,” says Julia Valla, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering who serves as Noonan’s advisor. “Unlike most undergraduate researchers who require significant guidance, Caitlin consistently challenges me with new ideas and approaches to our work on CO2 capture using renewable carbons. She has transformed from a promising REU (research experience undergraduate) student to a driving force in our research.

    “Her Goldwater Award recognition is well-deserved, and I have no doubt that her passion for pushing boundaries will make her an exceptional professor and mentor in the future. In my experience, the students who challenge their advisors rather than simply following directions are the ones who ultimately reshape their fields. I look forward to witnessing her continued success in the years to come.”

    Valla is also Noonan’s principal investigator for the NSF program at the UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2), while associate research professor Stoyan Bliznakov is the co-principal investigator.

    This summer, she will perform research as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) awardee through UConn’s Office of Undergraduate Research. Her project will be “Converting the University of Connecticut’s Food Waste into Activated Carbon for Carbon Capture, Sequestration, and Usage.”

    Noonan is currently an undergraduate teaching assistant in Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I this semester and will do the same for Thermodynamics II in the fall of 2025.

    She is a chemical and biomolecular engineering ambassador at UConn as she represents the department during UConn Bound Days to encourage admitted chemical engineering prospective students to attend UConn.

    The Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF) is a resource for students interested in learning more about the Goldwater Scholarship and other prestigious scholarships and fellowships that support study in all fields. ONSF is part of Enrichment Programs and is open to all graduate and undergraduate students at the University, including students at the regional campuses. For more information about the Goldwater Scholarship and other prestigious, nationally-competitive awards, visit ONSF at www.onsf.uconn.edu. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Learning Community Students Celebrate Public Health Week with Child Health Researchers

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn researchers met with undergraduate students in the UConn Public Health House Learning Community on April 8 in a celebration of public health week and as part of a long-running collaboration between the community and the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH).

    Over 75 first- and second-year students gathered in Werth Tower to hear from the researchers, all of whom are CSCH affiliates who work on issues relating to school and child health.

    The researchers included:

    • Sandra Chafouleas, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Neag Endowed Professor, Department of Educational Psychology and co-director of CSCH
    • Kevin Ferreira van Leer, assistant professor, Human Development and Family Sciences
    • Jessica Koslouski, assistant research professor, Educational Psychology
    • Maria LaRusso, assistant professor, Human Development and Family Sciences
    • Christina Ross, assistant professor, School of Nursing
    • Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor, Kinesiology

    Jaci VanHeest, associate professor in Educational Psychology, faculty director of the Public Health Learning Community, and CSCH steering committee member, moderated the event.

    CSCH researchers led small group discussions about their career path and current projects at the April 8 event with the Public Health House. (Helene Marcy/UConn CSCH)

    After giving brief introductions about their background, the six researchers — from four UConn schools and colleges — each led a small group discussion about their career path and their current projects. Students rotated to a different researcher halfway through the event.

    Areas of research represented at the event included children’s social-emotional learning and well-being; child and parent well-being in immigrant families; trauma-informed approaches in schools; the use of puppets to teach kids coping strategies; the development of fun assistive technologies that can help children with developmental disabilities; and the development of an app to help Black adolescent females learn about sexual health.

    “The range of faculty showcased the variety of fields that work to promote child health as well as many overlapping areas of focus and inquiry,” Koslouski said.

    “Learning about their fields of study and current projects gave me a new perspective on how broad the field is,” said Hannah Tuxbury, a second-year physiology and neurobiology major. “I was able to see how passionate these professionals were about the work that they do, which made me excited to explore the opportunities that are out there.”

    The small group discussions gave students a chance to also ask questions of the researchers in an informal setting. Students asked specific questions about particular research projects, fields as a whole, what classes the researchers recommended, and the impact of the research.

    “I enjoyed getting to know the students, learning about their experience in the learning community, and discussing research with them,” Ross said.

    “I was really struck by the critical questions students asked about how research can influence policy that support children’s well-being,” Ferreira van Leer said. “Multiple students asked nitty gritty questions about how the research process can center policy-relevant questions and use findings to inform policy.”

    Both researchers and students also appreciated the more casual format.

    “Learning about [the researchers’] fields of study and current projects gave me a new perspective on how broad the field is. … which made me excited to explore the opportunities that are out there.” &#8212 Hannah Tuxbury, student

    “It is a wonderful initiative for students to have the opportunity to connect with researchers on campus in a safe, non-intimidating environment,” Srinivasan said.

    “I thought that it was a great way to get people talking to professors about research in a conversational way,” agreed Avery Hawthorne, a second-year physiology and neurobiology major.

    And students weren’t the only ones learning at the event.

    “I learned a lot about what other faculty across campus are working on and getting to know them was a pleasure,” Ross said. “I hope other faculty get to engage in this activity in the future.”

    Over the past seven years, UConn Public Health House and CSCH have collaborated on many events, including panel discussions, participating in the recording of CSCH Live Talks, research panels, UConn Gives, and the building of puppets through the Feel Your Best Self project.

    Assistant professor Christina Ross leads a discussion with Public Health House students on April 8. (Helene Marcy/UConn CSCH)

    “Our collaboration with the Public Health House Learning Community has been the highlight of my spring semester for many years,” Chafouleas said. “Although our activities have varied by year, each opportunity has presented terrific opportunities to amplify collective interests in child, family, and school health.”

    “The partnership between PHLC and CSCH has been a cornerstone of our scholarly activities over the past seven years,” VanHeest said. “Our students have been challenged to explore themselves and the broad scope of health issues through these interactions. We are excited about furthering this partnership.”

    Part of the Collaboratory’s mission is to educate and mentor students in the science of school and child health. This is the third meet-the-researcher event put together by the two teams; the style and content of the event has been a consistent hit with involved students and faculty.

    It was an amazing experience,” said first-year student Amelia Espinal, a speech, language and hearing sciences major. “I learned so much about things that will truly help me with my future career. The presenters were incredibly friendly and eager to help, always ready to answer any questions my friends and I had.”

    “The opportunity to interact with young, curious, and enthusiastic minds was invigorating,” Srinivasan said. “It was wonderful to be able to share my journey with the students, hear their questions, and offer my perspective.”

    “I really enjoyed the roundtable conversations,” Ferreira van Leer said. “I left the conversation hopeful about the role students can play in research and excited to see the large interest in getting involved in the research process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PNG’s ‘chief servant’ James Marape defeats no-confidence vote

    By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor

    Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has survived a motion of no confidence against him in Parliament.

    During the proceedings, livestreamed on EMTV, Speaker Job Pomat announced the results of the vote as 16 votes in favour and 89 against.

    In moving the motion, the member for Abau, Sir Puka Temu, nominated Sir Peter Ipatas as an alternative prime minister to Marape, and said the motion was moved on principle.

    “This is not a vote of ambition, it is a vote of accountability, it is a vote of conscience. Mr Speaker what is the role of government if not to uplift its people,” Sir Puka said.

    The seconder of the motion, Wabag Open MP Lino Tom acknowledged the government’s superior numbers, but said the opposition were acting in the interest of the people and challenged Marape to address them on the floor.

    “He needs to tell the people because he is the chief accountable officer of this country,” Tom said.

    “He can no longer blame his incompetent ministers. He can no longer blame any other person here on this floor.”

    Speaker put question
    The Speaker then went to immediately put the question, provoking the ire of the opposition bench with Madang MP Bryan Kramer accusing him of acting contrary to the Supreme Court order that had the House resume to hear the motion, which had initially been denied by the Parliament’s private business committee.

    “Mr Speaker must be consistent with the privileges and the spirit and intent of the constitution that provide every member the opportunity to debate,” he said.

    “This is a court order if you entertain this motion of ‘question be put’ then there will be contempt proceedings.”

    Despite multiple points of order from the opposition calling for the motion to be debated, Pomat proceeded to put the question and the results were overwhelmingly Marape’s favour.

    “Those in favour of this motion are 16 and those who are not in favour of this motion and who want the Honourable Member for Tari Pori, Honourable James Marape, to remain as prime minister are 89.”

    After the vote, Marape moved a motion to address the movers of the motion, and spoke at length about the achievements of his government, while throwing jabs at the opposition MPs, many of who had served as ministers in his government at different times.

    He finished by thanking all who supported him in today’s leadership challenge.

    Thanks to members
    “I want to say thank you for members on both sides of the House for your participation today.

    “A sincere thank you to the 89 on their feet, who stood up to vote and I want to say thank you as your chief servant.

    “I will try my absolute best to continue on leaving no place and no one behind as the ultimate aim of this government and should be for any government going forward into the future.”

    The nominated challenger, Sir Peter, also rose to thank the opposition for nominating him, and to all the people of Papua New Guinea who reached out to him with messages of support.

    He said he only accepted the nomination because so many MPs had complained about the prime minister’s performance.

    Sir Ipatas challenged government MPs to stop bickering and gossiping about James Marape behind his back.

    “As he rightly said, he is putting his time and effort into trying to make this country great,” he said.

    Call to ‘not gossip’
    “It is about our ministers and leaders and leaders of coalition partners not gossiping, but be open with the prime minister and talk about issues that we have for the country and for the people.

    “This country belongs to all of us. Our people.”

    Parliament is now adjourned until May 27.

    Under new laws passed last month, Marape now has an 18-month reprieve from votes of no confidence.

    With only two years left until the next election, RNZ Pacific understands this effectively gives him a clear run to the 2027 National General Election.

    Several opposition MPs in Parliament on Tuesday urged Marape to make the most of the upcoming period of stability, and deliver some real results for Papua New Guineans.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova: The plan to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo includes a whole block of events for the social development of the region and the restoration of cultural heritage sites

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, head of the Russian Historical Society Sergei Naryshkin and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Central Federal District Igor Shchegolev held a meeting of the organizing committee for preparations for the celebration of the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo. The members of the organizing committee summed up the preliminary results and determined further areas of work in preparation for the anniversary. The event took place in the Government House.

    “In 2030, we will celebrate one of the significant events in the history of Russia – the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo. This event has become a symbol of the unity of our people, cohesion and exceptional strength of spirit in the face of an external threat. The plan of the main events was approved in 2021 and includes 66 events. It is important that the plan includes not only festive events, but also a whole block aimed at the social development of the region, the restoration and repair of cultural heritage sites, as well as educational projects,” said Deputy Prime Minister, co-chair of the organizing committee Tatyana Golikova.

    She emphasized that the implementation of the plan began in 2022. Six events have been completed. In 2024, the Russian Ministry of Culture, together with the government of the Tula Region, completed work on adapting the building of the chambers in Venev for a museum complex; a modern local history museum was opened and equipped there. The Cultural Development Center was built in Venev. Navigation in the Kulikovsky tourism and recreation cluster was improved, and the Kulikovo Battle: Archaeological VR Quest project was developed and implemented. The Palace of Culture of Machine Builders in Uzlovaya and the Mobile Culture and Leisure Center in Kimovsk were renovated at the expense of the regional budget.

    “The victory at Kulikovo Field, won by the united Russian army under the command of Dmitry Donskoy, is one of those turning points in Russian history, during which our people defended their freedom and right to the future. Therefore, it is rightly placed on a par with the famous Battle on the Ice, the Battle of Borodino and the Battle of Stalingrad. The theme of the legacy of the Battle of Kulikovo deserves special attention from our organizing committee. Many members of the Russian Historical Society have proposed relevant projects. The plan includes initiatives from the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Russian History and the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as the State Historical Museum and the Central Museum of the Armed Forces. A number of events are planned by regional branches of the Russian Historical Society in the Tula and Kaluga regions. The History of the Fatherland Foundation will also make its contribution to organizing the celebration,” said the head of the Russian Historical Society and co-chairman of the organizing committee Sergei Naryshkin.

    The Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Central Federal District, co-chairman of the organizing committee Igor Shchegolev noted that the plan turned out to be very intense. He emphasized that the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo is an event of national scale. It is important to pay special attention to holding events not only in the Tula Region, but also in Moscow and the Moscow Region.

    First Deputy Minister of Culture Sergei Obryvalin reported that a number of publishing and exhibition projects are already being implemented. This year, the State Museum-Reserve “Kulikovo Pole” will publish thematic guidebooks “From Nepryadva to Ugra”, “From Vozha to Don”, “Along the Upper Don”, a collection of documents “The Era of the Battle of Kulikovo and Dmitry Donskoy”, and will also host a conference “The Battle of Kulikovo in National Historical Memory, Literature and Art”.

    Tula Region Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported that, within the framework of the main plan, more than 100 creative competitions, round tables and intellectual competitions among students dedicated to the Battle of Kulikovo were held in the region in 2024 alone, scientific conferences, thematic exhibitions and festivals were organized. Among them is the traveling exhibition of Ilya Glazunov “Kulikovo Field”, which includes 22 monumental canvases by the artist, donated by him to the Tula Museum of Fine Arts. The Tula Drama Theater staged the play “Dmitry”. Every year, with the support of the regional government, the Day of Military Glory is celebrated on the anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, and the regional youth historical and cultural forum “Peresvet” is also held. Municipalities that are part of the Kulikovo cluster are developing.

    Director of the State Military-Historical and Natural Museum-Reserve “Kulikovo Pole” Vladimir Gritsenko spoke about the projects that the museum is preparing for the anniversary of the battle.

    Following the meeting, the members of the organizing committee agreed to supplement the plan of events.

    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 Global: How mine water could warm up the UK’s forgotten coal towns

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jingyi Li, Research Associate, Geothermal Energy and Climate Change, University of Manchester

    Historic coal mining in north-east England. Jingyi Li, CC BY-NC-ND

    The Ukraine war sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving up prices and leaving households across the UK struggling with soaring energy bills. But beneath the ground, in disused coal mines, lies a hidden resource – warm water. This underused geothermal source could be transformed into affordable, low-carbon heating for homes and businesses, especially in regions hardest hit economically by the decline of coal.

    Across the UK, around 25% of the population lives above disused coal mines. This underground warmth could be harnessed by pumping naturally warm water to the surface and using heat pumps to raise its temperature for heating. This could lower energy bills and cut emissions by about the same as removing 44,000 cars from the roads annually, according to our calculations. Despite this promise, mine-water heating remains largely underutilised across the UK, as deployment has lagged far behind, leaving most of the resource untapped.

    Although flagship projects like the one in Gateshead, operational since 2023, demonstrate the feasibility of mine-water heating in the UK, they remain the exception. Deployment has been especially slow even in high-potential areas like south Wales. Meanwhile, the mine-water heating scheme at Seaham Garden Village, near Sunderland, has only recently kicked off construction after a prolonged delay since its initial planning in 2019.

    Our new research shows that despite growing interest, projects across the UK continue to be stalled by funding gaps, regulatory hurdles and a shortage of skilled workers. Without immediate action, these former coal-mining communities are at risk of falling further behind as the country moves towards cleaner energy for net zero, widening the gap between wealthier and disadvantaged regions.

    The solution is simple but not easy: sufficient and accessible funding schemes especially for those undeserved communities, streamlined regulations and support from fossil fuel companies, whose engineering expertise can be applied to mine water heating. Technology could transform a forgotten coal legacy into a sustainable future for communities in need.

    Coal production history v today’s mining village.
    Jingyi Li, CC BY-NC-ND

    The UK has a vast network of abandoned coal mines, especially in north-east England, which once produced 14% of the nation’s coal. However, around a quarter of the population in this region lives below the poverty line today.

    Many households in the north east experience fuel poverty at rates higher than the national average, with energy bills that are often higher than in most other parts of England. Mine-water heating could help address this burden, but to make a meaningful difference, both the number and scale of schemes must be increased nationwide.

    Gateshead mine water heat scheme.
    Jingyi Li, CC BY-NC-ND

    However, current government funding schemes, like the heat networks delivery unit, only cover about 33% of capital costs according to our interviewee, leaving local authorities and developers to find the rest. This competitive model disadvantages poorer areas that need the most support. Without solid financial backing, many projects will never get off the ground.

    The Coal Authority has played a key role in piloting early mine water schemes, but industry feedback points to a need for faster, more transparent deployment pathways. Developers face regulatory uncertainty in accessing mine-water heat from the Coal Authority, citing delays and procedural complexity as barriers to investment.

    Ambiguities in the regulatory framework for accessing this form of geothermal heat create delays and add to the financial burden for developers. The expertise required, such as drilling and pipework, is common in the UK’s longstanding oil and gas industry, but our research found that the current small-to-medium scale and uncertain future of mine water heating sector make it difficult to attract these skilled workers.

    Learning from the past

    Often the simplest and most reliable designs are the most effective. William Reid Clanny, a 19th-century inventor, made mine-safety lamps more sophisticated but ultimately delicate and impractical – his design required manual air pumping, used fragile glass that broke easily underground, and was too heavy for regular use. The same principle applies to mine-water heating. Straightforward, direct policies can cut through red tape to get projects up and running without unnecessary bureaucratic complications.

    Simple safety lamps like these were used by UK miners.
    Image Seeker/Shutterstock

    For mine-water heating to work on a larger scale, funding must be easier to access, especially for regions hardest hit by the decline of coal. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero could allocate funds specifically for these areas, giving them a fair chance to develop projects without having to compete with wealthier regions.

    New rules should clearly set a timeline for gaining the permission to access and exploit the underground heat. This would give developers confidence and attract investment. The US and New Zealand show how clear rules can boost interest in renewables.

    To overcome the skills shortage, the Indian government introduced a corporate social responsibility law whereby companies are required to invest a portion of their profits into local projects. Applying this approach in the UK could encourage fossil fuel companies to fund training and support local green initiatives. It could also provide opportunities for laid-off workers unable to find similar high-paying jobs abroad and training for local workers in former mining communities.

    Mine water isn’t just a low-carbon heating source, it’s a chance to deliver justice to communities long left behind. But achieving this will require decisive action from policymakers. Unlocking this hidden resource can help power the UK’s green transition.

    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.

    Cathy Hollis receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council. She is affiliated with and President of the International Association of Sedimentology, a not-for-profit, non-political scientific society.

    Alejandro Gallego Schmid and Jingyi Li 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. How mine water could warm up the UK’s forgotten coal towns – https://theconversation.com/how-mine-water-could-warm-up-the-uks-forgotten-coal-towns-241834

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: When dogs return to nature – just how domesticated are our pooches really?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University

    Photobox.ks/Shutterstock

    It’s hard to imagine a beloved pet dog surviving in the world. But reports of a 4 kg miniature dachshund looking well 500 days after she escaped during a family holiday is raising questions about how dependent our dogs really are on their humans. Our loyal pooches may be less domesticated than we like to think.

    In November 2023, Valerie, a black and tan dachshund, went on holiday with her family. They visited Kanagaroo island off the south Australian coast, an area famous for its wildlife, including koalas and sea lions. During the holiday, Valerie vanished from her family’s campsite.

    Initially there were local sightings of Valerie, wearing her little pink collar, but she refused to be caught and gradually, reported sightings slowed. Her owners were shocked she had survived even one night alone because she was a pampered dog who “never left” their side.

    Now, well over a year since she went missing, Valerie has been sighted again still apparently choosing to be wild and free. A local wildlife rescue organisation is trying to track and catch Valerie with cameras and traps to return the plucky pooch home.

    Dependent dogs?

    Dogs and humans have lived together for more than 15,000 years, longer than any other domesticated animal. During that time, dogs have changed considerably from their early ancestors both physically and behaviourally. This is a result of human preferences and selection for particular characteristics, such as flat faces as seen in pugs, or working ability.

    The close relationship we typically have with dogs as friends and family members makes it easy to view them as dependent upon us.

    The reality however, is probably a little less “Lassie come home” and more “the call of the wild”.

    Not all dogs are pets

    The global dog population is estimated to be around 500 million. The majority of these dogs live on the edges of human society as feral, pariah or street dogs and are often viewed as pests rather than cuddly companions. These dogs largely exist on human-derived food sources including waste and faecal matter, but otherwise generally live successfully, independent of human care and management.

    Dogs evolved as highly efficient scavengers, eating a mixed diet. Many of those traits remain in our canine companions. Pet dog behaviour we often label problematic, including counter-surfing and poop eating, stems from their scavenging characteristics.

    This means that even dogs living lives of luxury can survive in extreme situations. This might help to explain Valerie’s apparent independence on Kangaroo Island, where she is presumed to be living on roadkill, carrion and natural fresh water.

    The abundant wildlife on the island, such as birds and small rodents, might partly account for Valerie’s success, especially as dachshunds were developed as hunting dogs, shaped for squeezing into animal burrows. Even highly domesticated dogs have been known to hunt independently and cooperatively with each other. One report from the 1990s, describes a pack of dogs hunting humans in Newfoundland, Canada, after they were abandoned on a remote island.

    The dogs of Chernobyl also reveal their ability to adapt to changing circumstances. A population of dogs survives in the vicinity of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that was destroyed in a catastrophic incident in 1986. These dogs probably originate from strays or once-loved family pets who were released immediately following the accident and have diverged to two separate breeding populations. Notably, the dogs of Chernobyl appear to be surviving and breeding successfully, without direct human intervention.

    Homeward bound

    Despite the evidence suggesting that Valerie and her canine cousins might have impressive survival skills, this can create challenges for other animals.

    Dogs can be problematic in many ecosystems causing damage and spreading disease. This applies to our beloved pets as well as stray and free-living dogs. Cases of domestic dogs interbreeding with local wildlife,, including foxes and endangered species, are concerning for conservationists.

    So efforts to return Valerie back home are important for the island wildlife too.

    When dogs go missing, the vast majority return home quickly and safely. Occasionally stories of faithful dogs finding their family hit the headlines, but these stories are the exception to the norm and many lost pets sadly never return to their original home.

    Part of responsible canine caregiving is ensuring that dogs wear identification, and are microchipped, so that if found, they can be quickly returned home. Combining this with essential skills such as recall can go a long way to keeping your dog safe.

    Should the worst happen and your dog does go missing, seek professional advice from local dog wardens, walkers and vets. Many lost dogs will quickly enter survival mode, making even the most human-oriented dog wary of people, including their family members. This means experienced advice is essential.

    Valerie the valiant dachshund gives us a fascinating insight to the survival capabilities and behavioural adaptability of our domestic dogs. Hopefully it won’t be too long before she is safely returned to her home comforts.

    Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership and as advisor to the Health Advisory Group. Jacqueline is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #01583) and she also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis, in addition to her academic affiliation at Nottingham Trent University.

    – ref. When dogs return to nature – just how domesticated are our pooches really? – https://theconversation.com/when-dogs-return-to-nature-just-how-domesticated-are-our-pooches-really-253265

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda presides over 5th Convocation Ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh

    Source: Government of India

    Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda presides over 5th Convocation Ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh

    Convocation ceremony is a special occasion which marks recognition for the achievements made by students: Shri JP Nadda

    “The government is focused on providing healthcare which is not only curative but also preventive, palliative and rehabilitative”

    “1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational across the country. In the last 10 years, medical colleges have seen an increase of 101%. There has been a 130% increase in MBBS seats while PG seats have seen an increase of 138% in the last 10 years”

    Inaugurates several healthcare facilities including Integrated Medicine in the Ayush Department, a PET scan machine in the Nuclear Medicine Department, PACS facility in the Radiology Department and a Centre for Advanced Pediatrics in Pediatric Care

    AIIMS Rishikesh is providing advanced medical treatment like robotic surgery, neuro surgery and radiation therapy to patients: Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami

    434 Students Awarded Degrees during the convocation

    Posted On: 15 APR 2025 2:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda presided over the fifth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh, today. He was joined by Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand; Shri Dhan Singh Rawat, Health and Education Minister, Uttarakhand; Members of Lok Sabha, Shri Ajay Bhatt, Shri Ajay Tamta and Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat; and Smt. Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

    Addressing the gathering, Shri JP Nadda stated that “convocation ceremony is a special occasion which marks recognition for the achievements made by students.” He said providing affordable and quality healthcare to every poor person in the country is a priority of the central government.

    Shri JP Nadda highlighted the achievements of AIIMS institutes across the country in medical education and services. He stated that “till the advent of this century, India only had on AIIMS in the country. Today, there are 22 AIIMS operating in the country.” He stated that AIIMS Rishikesh has carved a unique identity among healthcare institutes due to its superior services.

    He reiterated the central government’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare for the citizenry. “The government is focused on providing healthcare which is not only curative but also preventive, palliative and rehabilitative”, he stated.

    Highlighting the achievements of the Union Government in the health sector, Shri Nadda stated, “today, 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational across the country providing a range of services pertaining to healthcare and wellness. In the last 10 years, there has been a 101% increase in medical colleges, totaling 780 across the country. There has been a 130% increase in MBBS seats while PG seats have seen an increase of 138% in the last 10 years”. “Similarly, to cater to the paramedics, 157 nursing colleges are also being established, to be co-located with the medical colleges”, he further stated.

    The Union Health Minister appreciated AIIM Rishikesh for effectively utilizing the helicopter and drone services by rescuing 309 critical patients using the services. He also congratulated AIIMS Rishikesh for being one of the best institutes in the country for using digital services like telemedicine (eSanjeevani) to serve the remote and underserved areas of the state.

    Shri Nadda concluded his address by encouraging students to approach their work with compassion, integrity, and dedication. Emphasizing that the government spends between Rs. 30-35 lakh for every MBBS student, he urged the new doctors to shoulder more responsibilities as they embark on their professional careers.

    During the event, Shri Nadda inaugurated several healthcare facilities to enhance the institute’s medical services, including Integrated Medicine in the Ayush Department, a PET scan machine in the Nuclear Medicine Department, PACS facility in the Radiology Department, and a Centre for Advanced Pediatrics in Pediatric Care.

    During the ceremony, Shri Nadda awarded gold medals and degrees to 10 medical students from MBBS, DM, MSc Nursing, BSc Nursing, and BSc Allied Health Sciences programs. A total of 434 students received degrees during the convocation including 98 MBBS students, 95 BSc (Hons) Nursing students, 54 BSc Allied Health Sciences students, 109 MD/MS/MDS students, 17 MSc Nursing students, 1 MSc Medical Allied student, 12 Master of Public Health students, 40 DM/MCh students, and 8 PhD students.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami said that India’s healthcare sector has seen a significant uplift in the last decade with the launch of initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and establishment of new AIIMS and medical colleges.

    He stated that AIIMS Rishikesh is providing quality and affordable healthcare services and facilities to people from across the state. He stated that the institute is providing advanced medical treatment like robotic surgery, neuro surgery and radiation therapy to patients. He also highlighted the inauguration of Heli-ambulance services in AIIMS Rishikesh.

    Shri Dhami also highlighted that today more than 5,000 Gram Panchayats in Uttarakhand are TB free. He stated the government is working to set up a medical college in every district of the state and expand the network of Jan Aushadi Kendras in the state.

    The event was also attended by AIIMS Rishikesh President, Prof. Samiran Nandy; Executive Director, Prof. Meenu Singh; Dean Academics, Prof. Jaya Chaturvedi; Medical Superintendent, Prof. B. Satya Shri; Deputy Director (Administration), Col. Rajiv Sen Roy; Dean Examinations, Prof. Prashant Patil; Financial Advisor, Lt. Col. S. Siddharth; Organizing Committee Chairperson, Prof. Latika Mohan; heads of various departments, faculty members, officers, and medical and nursing students.

    *****

    MV

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces 31st Human Exploration Rover Challenge Winners

    Source: NASA

    NASA has announced the winning student teams in the 2025 Human Exploration Rover Challenge. This year’s competition challenged teams to design, build, and test a lunar rover powered by either human pilots or remote control. In the human-powered division, Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas, earned first place in the high school division, and the Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, captured the college and university title. In the remote-control division, Bright Foundation in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, earned first place in the middle and high school division, and the Instituto Tecnologico de Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, captured the college and university title.
    The annual engineering competition – one of NASA’s longest standing student challenges – wrapped up on April 11 and April 12, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The complete list of 2025 award winners is provided below:

    First Place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    Second Place: Ecambia High School, Pensacola, Florida
    Third Place: Centro Boliviano Americano – Santa Cruz, Bolivia

    First Place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina
    Second Place: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Third Place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

    First Place: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    Second Place: Assumption College, Brangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
    Third Place: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado

    First Place: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Second Place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina
    Third Place: Tecnologico de Monterey – Campus Cuernvaca, Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico

     Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: International Hope School of Bangladesh, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    College/University Division: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    College/University Division: Southwest Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Assumption College, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    College/University Division: University of Alabama in Huntsville

    Universidad de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (Human-Powered Division)

    Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Human-Powered Division)

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Albertville Innovation School, Albertville, Alabama
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Instituto Salesiano Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    College/University Division: Tecnologico de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: International Hope School of Bagladesh, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    College/University Division: Universidad Catolica Boliviana “San Pablo” La Paz, Bolivia

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
    College/University Division: Instituto Salesiano Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Space Education Institute, Leipzig, Germany
    College/University Division: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, Indiana

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado
    College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Academy of Arts, Career, and Technology, Reno, Nevada
    College/University Division: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Fabion Diaz Palacious from Universidad Catolica Boliviana “San Pablo” La Paz, Bolivia

    Deira International School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    More than 500 students with 75 teams from around the world participated in the  31st year of the competition. Participating teams represented 35 colleges and universities, 38 high schools, and two middle schools from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 other nations. Teams were awarded points based on navigating a half-mile obstacle course, conducting mission-specific task challenges, and completing multiple safety and design reviews with NASA engineers. 
    NASA expanded the 2025 challenge to include a remote-control division, Remote-Operated Vehicular Research, and invited middle school students to participate. 
    “This student design challenge encourages the next generation of scientists and engineers to engage in the design process by providing innovative concepts and unique perspectives,” said Vemitra Alexander, who leads the challenge for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. “This challenge also continues NASA’s legacy of providing valuable experiences to students who may be responsible for planning future space missions, including crewed missions to other worlds.”
    The rover challenge is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges reflecting the goals of the Artemis campaign, which will land Americans on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration, preparing for future human missions to Mars. NASA uses such challenges to encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
    The competition is managed by NASA’s Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated – with many former students now working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.    
    To learn more about the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, please visit: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/roverchallenge/home/index.html

    Taylor GoodwinMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.256.544.0034taylor.goodwin@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Wallops Breaks Ground on New Causeway Bridge

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility commemorated the start of construction of its new Wallops Island causeway bridge during a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m., Monday, April 14, 2025, on the island.  

    The ceremony was held at the base of the old Wallops Island causeway bridge. Virgina state Sen. Bill DeSteph attended the groundbreaking, along with staffers from the offices of Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Tim Kaine, Congresswomen Jen Kiggans, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. NASA Wallops Facility Director David Pierce and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Associate Center Director Ray Rubilotta attended on behalf of the agency. 
    “Much has changed over the decades, but one thing that has remained the same is our reliance on the causeway bridge as the only means for vehicular access to and from the island,” said Pierce. “Our bridge supports a growing portfolio of commercial launch and government partners. The work we do advances science, technology, and national security missions. This vital work for our nation is enabled by our bridge.” 
    In 2023, NASA Wallops was awarded $103 million in federal funds to fully construct and replace the current 65-year-old causeway bridge that serves as the only vehicular access from NASA Wallops Mainland facilities to its Wallops Island facilities and launch range. After years of exposure to coastal weather and repeated repairs to extend its viability, the existing causeway bridge is reaching the end of its service life.  
    The new causeway bridge, slated for completion in early 2028, will feature a flatter structure, capable of accommodating the increase in heavier loads transported to and from the island in support of an increased cadence of launch operations by NASA, its tenants, and commercial partners. This vital investment in NASA’s infrastructure supports the launch range’s continued growth, strengthening its role as a key asset in Virginia and the nation.   

    NASA is partnering with the Federal Highway Administration to lead the delivery of the design-build project. The project has been awarded to Kokosing Construction Company. 
    For more information on NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, visit www.nasa.gov/wallops. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 32nd Station Resupply Launch, Arrival

    Source: NASA

    NASA and SpaceX are targeting 4:15 a.m. EDT, Monday, April 21, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. This is the 32nd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbiting laboratory for the agency.
    Filled with more than 6,400 pounds of supplies, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
    Live launch coverage will begin at 3:55 a.m. on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms.
    NASA’s coverage of Dragon’s arrival to the orbital outpost will begin at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, on NASA+. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the zenith port of the space station’s Harmony module.
    Along with food and essential equipment for the crew, Dragon is delivering a variety of science experiments, including a demonstration of refined maneuvers for free-floating robots. Dragon also carries an enhanced air quality monitoring system that could protect crew members on exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, and two atomic clocks to examine fundamental physics concepts such as relativity and test worldwide synchronization of precision timepieces.
    The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until May, when it will depart and return to Earth with research and cargo, splashing down off the coast of California.
    NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
    Wednesday, April 16
    1 p.m. – International Space Station National Lab Science Webinar with the following participants:

    Jennifer Buchli, chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
    Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer, International Space Station National Lab
    Claire Fortenberry, research aerospace engineer, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland
    Yupeng Chen, co-founder, Eascra Biotech
    Mari Anne Snow, CEO, Eascra Biotech
    Maj. Travis Tubbs, U.S. Air Force Academy
    Heath Mills, co-founder, Rhodium Scientific
    Sarah Wyatt, researcher, Ohio University

    Media who wish to participate must register for Zoom access no later than one hour before the start of the webinar.
    Audio of the teleconference will stream live on the International Space Station National Lab website.
    Friday, April 18
    3 p.m. – Prelaunch media teleconference (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:

    Zebulon Scoville, deputy manager, Transportation Integration Office, NASA’s International Space Station Program
    Jennifer Buchli, chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
    Sarah Walker, director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX
    Jimmy Taeger, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

    Media who wish to participate by phone must request dial-in information by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 17, by emailing Kennedy’s newsroom at: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
    Audio of the teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website.
    Monday, April 21:
    3:55 a.m. – Launch coverage begins on NASA+.
    4:15 a.m. – Launch
    Tuesday, April 22:
    6:45 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+.
    8:20 a.m. – Docking
    NASA website launch coverageLaunch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 3:55 a.m., April 21, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video on NASA+ and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on our International Space Station blog for updates.
    Attend Launch Virtually
    Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch.
    Watch, Engage on Social Media
    Let people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts:
    X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASocial, @Space_Station, @ISS_Research, 
    @ISS National Lab
    Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab
    Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab
    Coverage en Espanol
    Did you know NASA has a Spanish section called NASA en Espanol? Check out NASA en Espanol on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for additional mission coverage.
    Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
    Learn more about the commercial resupply mission at:

    NASA’s SpaceX CRS-32

    -end-
    Julian Coltre / Josh FinchHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100julian.n.coltre@nasa.gov / joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
    Stephanie Plucinsky / Steven SiceloffKennedy Space Center, Florida321-876-2468stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov / steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov
    Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Exploring the Universe Through Sight, Touch, and Sound

    Source: NASA

    For the first time in history, we can explore the universe through a rich blend of senses—seeing, touching, and hearing astronomical data—in ways that deepen our understanding of space. While three-dimensional (3D) models are essential tools for scientific discovery and analysis, their potential extends far beyond the lab.
    Space can often feel distant and abstract, like watching a cosmic show unfold on a screen light-years away. But thanks to remarkable advances in technology, software, and science, we can now transform telescope data into detailed 3D models of objects millions or even billions of miles away. These models aren’t based on imagination—they are built from real data, using measurements of motion, light, and structure to recreate celestial phenomena in three dimensions.
    What’s more, we can bring these digital models into the physical world through 3D printing. Using innovations in additive manufacturing, data becomes something you can hold in your hands. This is particularly powerful for children, individuals who are blind or have low vision, and anyone with a passion for lifelong learning. Now, anyone can quite literally grasp a piece of the universe.
    These models also provide a compelling way to explore concepts like scale. While a 3D print might be just four inches wide, the object it represents could be tens of millions of billions of times larger—some are so vast that a million Earths could fit inside them. Holding a scaled version of something so massive creates a bridge between human experience and cosmic reality.
    In addition to visualizing and physically interacting with the data, we can also listen to it. Through a process called sonification, telescope data is translated into sound, making information accessible and engaging in a whole new way. Just like translating a language, sonification conveys the essence of astronomical data through audio, allowing people to “hear” the universe.
    To bring these powerful experiences to communities across the country, NASA’s Universe of Learning, in collaboration with the Library of Congress, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Space Telescope Science Institute, has created Mini Stars 3D Kits that explore key stages of stellar evolution. These kits have been distributed to Library of Congress state hubs across the United States to engage local learners through hands-on and multisensory discovery.
    Each Mini Stars Kit includes:

    Three 3D-printed models of objects within our own Milky Way galaxy:

    Pillars of Creation (M16/Eagle Nebula) – a stellar nursery where new stars are born
    Eta Carinae – a massive, unstable star system approaching the end of its life
    Crab Nebula – the aftermath of a supernova, featuring a dense neutron star at its core

    Audio files with data sonifications for each object—mathematical translations of telescope data into sound
    Descriptive text to guide users through each model’s scientific significance and sensory interpretation

    These kits empower people of all ages and abilities to explore the cosmos through touch and sound—turning scientific data into a deeply human experience. Experience your universe through touch and sound at: https://chandra.si.edu/tactile/ministar.html
    Credits:
    3D Prints Credit: NASA/CXC/ K. Arcand, A. Jubett, using software by Tactile Universe/N. Bonne & C. Krawczyk & Blender
    Sonifications: Dr. Kimberly Arcand (CXC), astrophysicist Dr. Matt Russo, and musician Andrew Santaguida (both of the SYSTEM Sounds project)
    3D Model: K. Arcand, R. Crawford, L. Hustak (STScI)

    MIL OSI USA News –