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Category: Science

  • MIL-Evening Report: Would looser lending rules help more people buy a house – or just put them at risk?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Grant, Associate Professor in Finance, University of Sydney

    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Big promises on housing were at the centre of both major parties’ announcements at the official federal election campaign launches on the weekend.

    Among the highlights, Labor pledged to build 100,000 new homes and extend a government-guaranteed 5% deposit scheme to all first home buyers. The Coalition promised to make interest payments on the first A$650,000 of a mortgage tax-deductible for up to five years, for eligible first home buyers purchasing new builds.

    Amid this flurry of policies, it’s important we don’t forget another Coalition promise from earlier this month – lowering the 3% mortgage serviceability “buffer”.

    Promising to help would-be homebuyers without access to the “bank of mum and dad”, the policy aims to make loans easier to get amid high interest rates and house prices. But it has also reignited debate over lending regulation.

    What exactly does this buffer do, and what might we lose by lowering it?

    Protecting banks and borrowers

    Mortgage buffers are a risk management tool, regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

    When banks assess a home loan, they don’t just check if you can repay it at today’s rate. They test whether you could still afford it if interest rates were higher.

    Suppose a borrower in Sydney takes out a mortgage of $780,000 (around the average loan size). At a 6% interest rate, the monthly repayments over 30 years would be about $4,672.

    Under the current serviceability buffer – three percentage points – banks assess whether this prospective borrower could still afford repayments if interest rates rose to 9%, which would increase their monthly repayments to around $6,270.

    This buffer doesn’t increase the price the borrower actually pays. It simply ensures they have the capacity to service higher repayments if conditions worsen.

    The last time mortgage rates were above 9% for an extended period (1996), Peter Dutton was in the Queensland Police Service, the Swans had lost the AFL Grand Final, and Oasis were about to cancel their Australian tour. Could history repeat itself?



    Read more:
    Labor and Coalition support for new home buyers welcome but other Australians also struggling with housing affordability

    Why lower it?

    APRA increased the serviceability buffer from 2.5% to 3% in late 2021. But at the time, Australia’s cash rate was very low, at just 0.1%. It’s now 4.1%.

    Critics argue the buffer has become too restrictive now that rates are higher, locking out first home buyers and those without parental financial help.

    The buffer can also act as a barrier to refinancing. Those who qualified for a loan when interest rates were low may no longer meet serviceability requirements under higher rates. Research suggests that removing refinancing barriers can reduce loan defaults and support household spending.

    The risks

    There are good reasons for the measures we have to protect borrowers from future shocks.

    Reducing the buffer allows more borrowers to qualify for the same loan. But it also means there’s less built-in protection against future rate rises.

    Research shows the risk of a borrower defaulting on their mortgage increases sharply when their loan-to-value ratio – the amount borrowed divided by the property’s purchase price – is above 75%, or where a borrower is spending two-thirds of their income on the mortgage.

    But buffers also need to be set carefully, ensuring they don’t unnecessarily lock out creditworthy borrowers.

    The mortgage serviceability buffer is designed to protect borrowers from sudden financial shocks.
    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Help for first home buyers?

    When considered together with the Coalition’s additional policies – to allow first home buyers to withdraw up to $50,000 from their superannuation for a home deposit and deduct mortgage payments from their taxable income – the implications become clearer.

    Economic theory suggests that combined, such measures would move more borrowers closer to the margin of affordability.

    Many would likely take on the maximum debt they could qualify for, leaving them highly exposed if economic or interest rate conditions deteriorate.

    And the very borrowers likely to rely on superannuation withdrawals to fund their deposits are also those with limited savings and potentially high loan-to-value ratios. The borrowers most affected by the barrier are therefore among the most vulnerable to repayment stress.

    What about house prices?

    There’s the obvious question of what reducing the barriers to borrowing would do to house prices, without a corresponding increase in supply.

    Research has shown stricter borrower-level constraints are effective in slowing house price growth, especially during periods of rapid credit expansion.

    These policies are most effective when targeted toward high-risk borrower groups such as first home buyers or those with high loan-to-valuation ratios.

    Some economists argue buffers need not be static. Instead, they could be tightened during booms to prevent the housing market overheating, and eased during tougher times to avoid cutting off credit unnecessarily.

    So, should we lower the buffer?

    Serviceability buffers aren’t just bureaucratic hurdles. They are an unseen brake on unsustainable borrowing and a cushion against future shocks.

    Borrower constraints don’t only reduce default risk – research shows they also redistribute credit more efficiently, shifting it away from overheated urban markets and toward lower-risk borrowers.

    The first cut to the cash rate in nearly five years has eased Australian mortgage stress risk in the short term. With renewed borrowing appetite, the role of buffers becomes even more critical.

    Removing them may help more people into homes in the short run, but it comes at the risk of greater pain later.

    Andrew Grant has previously received funding from the Australian Institute of Credit Management and illion (Experian).

    – ref. Would looser lending rules help more people buy a house – or just put them at risk? – https://theconversation.com/would-looser-lending-rules-help-more-people-buy-a-house-or-just-put-them-at-risk-253658

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australian honeybees are under attack by mites and beetles. Here’s how to keep your backyard hive safe

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cornelia Sattler, Research Fellow in Ecology & Videographer, Macquarie University

    Varroa mites on a male bee larva. Theotime Colin

    Australia’s honeybees are facing an exceptional crisis. The tiny but devastating foreign pest Varroa destructor is steadily spreading across the country.

    The mite feeds on baby bees (larvae), weakening them. It can also spread viruses that eventually destroy entire bee colonies.

    Efforts to contain its spread have failed, so it looks like Australia must learn to live
    with this parasite.

    What’s worse, Varroa destructor isn’t acting alone. In many parts of New South Wales, the mite’s arrival appears to have triggered a surge in another destructive pest: the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida).

    A wet summer in the east has created ideal conditions for beetle outbreaks. This combination is putting enormous pressure on bees and beekeepers alike. Here’s how to help support the bee industry and, if you’re a backyard beekeeper, defend your hives against attack.

    The parasitic mite Varroa destructor can hitch a ride on the back of a honeybee.
    Cornelia Sattler

    Know your enemy

    Varroa was first detected in Australia at the NSW Port of Newcastle in June 2022.

    The mite is now widely established in NSW and in Queensland between Toowoomba and Brisbane.

    It was detected in Victoria, North-West of Melbourne in February and the ACT earlier this month.

    In September 2023, Australian authorities acknowledged eradication was no longer possible. The focus shifted to long-term management.

    A slimy accomplice

    The varroa invasion appears to be making hives more susceptible to the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida). This species arrived in 2002.

    The beetle thrives in warm, humid conditions and lays its eggs inside hives. The larvae feed on honey and wax, turning once-thriving hives into a foul, fermented mess. Beekeepers call this a “slime-out” — and it’s just as bad as it sounds.

    The deadly one-two punch

    A healthy bee colony can usually defend itself against beetles. But when bees are weakened by varroa mites, they’re far less capable of resisting a beetle invasion.

    This deadly one-two punch has already devastated many beekeepers in NSW. One commercial beekeeper reported:

    I had large infestations of mites. And then following the mite, I got the boom of the hive beetles. I probably lost 30 hives to beetles.

    As varroa mites weaken a bee colony, other parasites — like the small hive beetle seen here — can invade and cause further damage.
    Cornelia Sattler

    What to do if you suspect an infestation?

    The number of registered recreational beekeepers in Australia is growing. In 2019, there were around 27,800 registered hobbyists. By 2023, that number had jumped to over 47,000. Backyard beekeepers also contribute A$260 million to the economy.

    Varroa represents a major threat to every Australian honey producer, so here’s a few tips.

    Inspect your hives at least once a month. If larvae appear to be tunnelling through honeycomb, or the honey appears fermented, these are signs beetles may be present.

    It’s difficult to detect mites visually, especially when there are few mites present. That’s where monitoring techniques come in. Typically, 300 bees are placed in ethanol or icing sugar and shaken until mites fall off. This allows beekeepers to not only detect the mites but also to count them.

    Report mites to the relevant state authorities. Failure to do so can result in fines.

    Immediately treat the infested hive and move it at least ten metres away from any others.

    Chemicals called miticides can kill varroa mites and knock the population down. But some beekeepers report side effects, including queen loss, so be prepared to replace queens.

    Mites may develop resistance to these treatments over time, as one commercial beekeeper from NSW said:

    We’ve experienced a lot of queenless hives. I don’t know whether that’s from treatments […] it might be just coincidence, but I’m hearing a lot of other beekeepers having the same problem.

    Varroa mites feed on bee larvae, so caging the queen and taking a short break from brood production can reduce the mite population. Mites prefer male bee larvae, so removing these can help.

    These control methods are effective, though labour-intensive, and potentially suitable for backyard beekeepers. They can lessen the need for chemical treatments — slowing the evolution of resistance to miticides.

    Protection against mites and beetles

    To prevent your backyard hives being infested by mites or beetles:

    • keep colonies well fed, so they don’t rob other colonies and catch their parasites

    • help bees recognise hives, so they don’t enter the wrong colony with varroa mites on their back (paint hives, space them apart by a few meters, ideally 10m)

    • reduce the size of hive entrances to help bees block access to intruders

    • regularly check that your beetle traps are still working, as bees often block the holes that let the beetles into the traps with tree resin

    • fill the cracks where beetles hide.

    How consumers can help

    Australians can support the nation’s beekeepers in a few simple ways. Buy 100% Australian honey and hive products from trusted, local sources.

    Sugar can easily be swapped for honey in most recipes and honey is a great way to sweeten tea.

    When substituting sugar for honey, it’s worth noting honey tastes sweeter so you might want to use less. Honey also contains 18% water, so you may need to reduce the amounts of other liquids in cake recipes accordingly.

    Avoid imported honey and bee products to reduce the chance of bringing bee viruses into the country. Not all imported bee products are treated to kill bee viruses.

    Finally, planting pollinator-friendly gardens helps to feed local bees.

    Safeguarding an industry and a popular hobby

    As well as backyard hobbyists, Australia’s beekeeping community includes 1,872 large-scale commercial beekeepers.

    Many fear mites will push beekeepers out of business. Protecting the industry requires a shift in mindset, from emergency response to long-term pest management.

    With good science, community support and adaptive management, beekeepers — both commercial and backyard — can weather the storm.

    Cornelia Sattler receives funding from the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation to develop non-chemical varroa control methods.

    Théotime Colin receives funding from the Australian Research Council, through an Early Career Industry Fellowship to develop non-chemical varroa control methods. He also receives funding from the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation.

    – ref. Australian honeybees are under attack by mites and beetles. Here’s how to keep your backyard hive safe – https://theconversation.com/australian-honeybees-are-under-attack-by-mites-and-beetles-heres-how-to-keep-your-backyard-hive-safe-253947

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New study finds no evidence technology causes ‘digital dementia’ in older people

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nikki-Anne Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), UNSW Sydney

    RDNE Stock project/Pexels

    In the 21st century, digital technology has changed many aspects of our lives. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest newcomer, with chatbots and other AI tools changing how we learn and creating considerable philosophical and legal challenges regarding what it means to “outsource thinking”.

    But the emergence of technology that changes the way we live is not a new issue. The change from analogue to digital technology began around the 1960s and this “digital revolution” is what brought us the internet. An entire generation of people who lived and worked through this evolution are now entering their early 80s.

    So what can we learn from them about the impact of technology on the ageing brain? A comprehensive new study from researchers at the University of Texas and Baylor University in the United States provides important answers.

    Manfred Spitzer first introduced the ‘digital dementia’ hypothesis in 2012.
    Marc Reichwein/Wikipedia

    Published today in Nature Human Behaviour, it found no supporting evidence for the “digital dementia” hypothesis. In fact, it found the use of computers, smartphones and the internet among people over 50 might actually be associated with lower rates of cognitive decline.

    What is ‘digital dementia’?

    Much has been written about the potential negative impact from technology on the human brain.

    According to the “digital dementia” hypothesis introduced by German neuroscientist and psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer in 2012, increased use of digital devices has resulted in an over-reliance on technology. In turn, this has weakened our overall cognitive ability.

    Three areas of concern regarding the use of technology have previously been noted:

    1. An increase in passive screen time. This refers to technology use which does not require significant thought or participation, such as watching TV or scrolling social media.

    2. Offloading cognitive abilities to technology, such as no longer memorising phone numbers because they are kept in our contact list.

    3. Increased susceptibility to distraction.

    Why is this new study important?

    We know technology can impact how our brain develops. But the effect of technology on how our brain ages is less understood.

    This new study by neuropsychologists Jared Benge and Michael Scullin is important because it examines the impact of technology on older people who have experienced significant changes in the way they use technology across their life.

    The new study performed what is known as a meta-analysis where the results of many previous studies are combined. The authors searched for studies examining technology use in people aged over 50 and examined the association with cognitive decline or dementia. They found 57 studies which included data from more than 411,000 adults. The included studies measured cognitive decline based on lower performance on cognitive tests or a diagnosis of dementia.

    The study found that technology use had a similarly positive effect on brain function as physical activity.
    l i g h t p o e t/shutterstock

    A reduced risk of cognitive decline

    Overall, the study found greater use of technology was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Statistical tests were used to determine the “odds” of having cognitive decline based on exposure to technology. An odds ratio under 1 indicates a reduced risk from exposure and the combined odds ratio in this study was 0.42. This means higher use of technology was associated with a 58% risk reduction for cognitive decline.

    This benefit was found even when the effect of other things known to contribute to cognitive decline, such as socioeconomic status and other health factors, were accounted for.

    Interestingly, the magnitude of the effect of technology use on brain function found in this study was similar or stronger than other known protective factors, such as physical activity (approximately a 35% risk reduction), or maintaining a healthy blood pressure (approximately a 13% risk reduction).

    However, it is important to understand that there are far more studies conducted over many years examining the benefits of managing blood pressure and increasing physical activty, and the mechanisms through which they help protect our brains are far more understood.

    It is also a lot easier to measure blood pressure than it is use of technology. A strength of this study is that it considered these difficulties by focusing on certain aspects of technology use but excluded others such as brain training games.

    These findings are encouraging. But we still can’t say technology use causes better cognitive function. More research is needed to see if these findings are replicated in different groups of people (especially those from low and middle income countries) who were underrepresented in this study, and to understand why this relationship might occur.

    A question of ‘how’ we use technology

    In reality, it’s simply not feasible to live in the world today without using some form of technology. Everything from paying bills to booking our next holiday is now almost completely done online. Maybe we should instead be thinking about how we use technology.

    Cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, learning a new language and playing music – particularly in early adulthood – can help protect our brains as we age.

    Greater engagement with technology across our lifespan may be a form of stimulating our memory and thinking, as we adapt to new software updates or learn how to use a new smartphone. It has been suggested this “technological reserve” may be good for our brains.

    Technology may also help us to stay socially connected, and help us stay independent for longer.

    Depending on how it’s used, technology can be highly stimulating for our brain.
    Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

    A rapidly changing digital world

    While findings from this study show it’s unlikely all digital technology is bad for us, the way we interact and rely on it is rapidly changing

    The impact of AI on the ageing brain will only become evident in future decades. However, our ability to adapt to historical technological innovations, and the potential for this to support cognitive function, suggests the future may not be all bad.

    For example, advances in brain-computer interfaces offer new hope for those experiencing the impact of neurological disease or disability.

    However, the potential downsides of technology are real, particularly for younger people, including poor mental health. Future research will help determine how we can capture the benefits of technology while limiting the potential for harm.

    Nikki-Anne Wilson has previously received funding from the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute and the Australian Association of Gerontology.

    – ref. New study finds no evidence technology causes ‘digital dementia’ in older people – https://theconversation.com/new-study-finds-no-evidence-technology-causes-digital-dementia-in-older-people-254392

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: PrairieSky Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. (“PrairieSky” or the “Company”) (TSX: PSK) is pleased to announce its first quarter operating and financial results for the period ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter Highlights:

    • Oil royalty production volumes averaged a record 13,502 barrels per day, a 3% increase over Q1 2024(1). Total royalty production averaged 25,339 BOE per day, a 3% decrease from Q1 2024 due to declines in natural gas and NGL production.
    • Royalty production revenue of $119.9 million combined with other revenue of $8.2 million to generate total revenues of $128.1 million for Q1 2025(1). Other revenue included bonus consideration of $5.0 million earned on entering into 52 new leasing arrangements focused on Duvernay light oil and Mannville light and heavy oil targets.
    • Funds from operations totaled $85.8 million or $0.36 per share, an increase of 3% over Q1 2024 primarily due to increased oil royalty revenue with higher oil royalty production volumes combined with narrowed oil price differentials.
    • Declared a first quarter dividend of $61.2 million ($0.26 per common share), representing a payout ratio of 71%.
    • Purchased and cancelled 3,415,900 common shares under the Company’s normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) for $90.0 million.
    • Completed acquisitions of both producing and non-producing royalty interests for $63.6 million, including the previously announced $50.0 million acquisition, before customary closing adjustments, of fee lands, lessor interests and gross overriding royalty interests in Central Alberta and Southeast Saskatchewan, as well as incremental royalty interests in the Duvernay, Clearwater and Mannville.
    • Net debt totaled $258.8 million as at March 31, 2025.
    		  


    President’s Message

    It was a busy first quarter across PrairieSky’s royalty properties with 200 wells spud on PrairieSky’s royalty acreage at an average royalty rate of 6.9%, an increase from 174 wells spud in Q1 2024 at an average royalty rate of 6.0%. In addition to robust activity in the Mannville heavy oil play with 39 wells spud, there were 20 wells spud in the Clearwater, 15 wells spud in the Duvernay light oil play, 8 wells spud in the liquids-rich Montney, and an incremental 118 oil and natural gas wells spud elsewhere across the basin.

    PrairieSky earned $119.9 in royalty revenues, 93% liquids, from total royalty production volumes of 25,339 BOE per day in Q1 2025, 3% lower than Q1 2024. Oil royalty revenue totaled $101.1 million, a 10% increase over Q1 2024, and was generated from record oil royalty production of 13,502 barrels per day, an increase of 3% over Q1 2024. Oil royalty production volumes were positively impacted by continued activity in the Clearwater, Mannville and Duvernay and the addition of 177 barrels per day of production from the previously announced royalty acquisition that closed on January 10, 2025. Natural gas royalty production added 55.9 MMcf per day, a decrease of 10% from Q1 2024, and included an estimate of 1.1 MMcf per day of downtime related to cold weather in the quarter. Natural gas royalty production added $8.7 million of royalty revenue with continued weak natural gas benchmark pricing with daily AECO index pricing averaging $2.16 per Mcf, a decrease of 14% from Q1 2024. NGL royalty production averaged 2,520 barrels per day, a slight decrease of 1% from Q1 2024. NGL royalty production generated total NGL royalty revenue of $10.1 million in the quarter.

    Other revenue totaled $8.2 million in Q1 2025 and included $5.0 million in bonus consideration from entering into 52 new leases with 39 separate counterparties. In addition to active leasing in the quarter, PrairieSky acquired incremental producing and non-producing royalty interests focused on heavy and light oil plays in Central Alberta and Saskatchewan for $63.6 million. Acquisitions included the previously announced purchase of fee lands, lessor interests and gross overriding royalty interests for cash consideration of $50.0 million, before customary closing adjustments, which closed on January 10, 2025.

    Funds from operations totaled $85.8 million ($0.36 per share) in the quarter. PrairieSky declared a dividend of $0.26 per share or $61.2 million in the quarter with a resulting payout ratio of 71%. Excess funds from operations were allocated to acquisitions, including the purchase and cancellation of common shares under PrairieSky’s NCIB. Under the NCIB, PrairieSky purchased 3,415,900 common shares at a weighted average price of $26.36 per share for $90.0 million, including commissions and before income tax of $1.8 million. The NCIB is a key component of our capital allocation strategy and the recent share repurchase represents a high-quality acquisition of 1.4% more of the business, equivalent to purchasing approximately 259,000 acres of royalty lands. Repurchased common shares were cancelled prior to PrairieSky’s March 31, 2025 dividend record date. Share repurchases were funded using PrairieSky’s credit facility, which PrairieSky expects to pay down using excess cash flow above its quarterly dividend over time. At March 31, 2025, PrairieSky maintained a strong balance sheet with net debt of $258.8 million.

    We will be holding our 2025 investor day and releasing our updated Royalty Playbook on May 14, 2025 which will highlight the unique attributes of our long-duration, high margin business model. The investor day will be broadcast via webcast for interested parties. Thank you to our staff for their hard work and our shareholders for their continued support.

    Andrew Phillips, President & CEO

    ACTIVITY ON PRAIRIESKY’S ROYALTY PROPERTIES

    Third-party operators spud 200 wells in Q1 2025 (Q1 2024 – 174 wells) comprised of 108 wells on gross overriding royalty acreage, 81 wells on fee lands, and 11 unit wells. There were a total of 186 oil wells (93% of wells) spud during the quarter which included 53 Mannville light and heavy oil wells, 38 Viking wells, 20 Clearwater wells, 17 Mississippian wells, 15 Duvernay wells and 43 additional oil wells across Alberta and Saskatchewan and including 11 Lindbergh and 6 Onion Lake thermal oil wells which are expected to come on production in 2026. There were 14 natural gas wells spud in Q1 2025 including 8 Montney wells as well as additional gas wells in the Mannville, Spirit River and Duvernay formations. PrairieSky’s average royalty rate for wells spud in Q1 2025 was 6.9% (Q1 2024 – 6.0%).

    NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

    PrairieSky will apply to the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) to extend its NCIB for an additional one-year period. The renewal of the NCIB has been approved by the Company’s board of directors; however, the NCIB, including the limit of purchases thereunder, will be subject to acceptance by the TSX and, if accepted, will be made in accordance with the applicable rules and policies of the TSX and applicable securities laws. Under the NCIB, common shares may be repurchased in open market transactions on the TSX, and/or other Canadian exchanges or alternative trading systems. The price that PrairieSky will pay for common shares in open market transactions will be the market price at the time of purchase. Common shares acquired under the NCIB will be cancelled. If approved, the NCIB is expected to commence shortly after regulatory approvals are obtained and after expiry of the current program on June 3, 2025.

    PrairieSky believes renewing the NCIB as part of its capital management strategy is in the best interests of the Company and represents an attractive opportunity to use cash resources to reduce PrairieSky’s share count over time and thereby enhance the value of the common shares held by remaining shareholders. Decisions regarding increases to the NCIB will be based on market conditions, share price, best use of funds from operations, and other factors including debt repayment and options to expand our portfolio of royalty assets.

    2025 INVESTOR DAY

    PrairieSky will be hosting an investor day on May 14, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, where members of PrairieSky’s management team will present details on the Company’s oil and natural gas plays. The investor day will be webcast starting at 9:30 a.m. MDT (11:30 a.m. EDT). Interested parties may participate in the webcast which will be available through PrairieSky’s investor center at www.prairiesky.com. The webcast will be archived and accessible for replay after the event.

    NOTES AND REFERENCES

    (1)    In this press release, the financial reporting periods are referred to as follows: “Q1 2025” or “the quarter” refers to the three months ended March 31, 2025; “Q1 2024” refers to the three months ended March 31, 2024.

    Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this press release but not defined above are as defined in in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and PrairieSky’s website at www.prairiesky.com.

    FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION

    The following table summarizes select operational and financial information of the Company for the periods noted. All dollar amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

    A full version of PrairieSky’s management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) and unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2025 are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and PrairieSky’s website at www.prairiesky.com.

        Three months ended
        March 31 December 31 March 31
    ($ millions, except $ per share or as otherwise noted)   2025 2024 2024
    FINANCIAL        
    Royalty production revenue     119.9     115.6     113.2  
    Other revenue     8.2     20.0     7.5  
    Revenues     128.1     135.6     120.7  
             
    Funds from operations     85.8     99.0     83.0  
    Per share – basic and diluted(1)     0.36     0.41     0.35  
             
    Net earnings     58.4     60.2     47.5  
    Per share – basic and diluted(1)     0.25     0.25     0.20  
             
    Dividends declared(2)     61.2     59.9     59.7  
    Per share     0.26     0.25     0.25  
             
    Dividend payout ratio(3)   71 % 61 % 72 %
             
    Acquisitions – including non-cash consideration(4)     63.6     31.5     8.8  
    Net debt(5)     258.8     134.9     208.3  
    Common share repurchases, inclusive of all costs     91.8     –     –  
             
    Shares outstanding (millions)        
    Shares outstanding at period end     235.5     239.0     239.0  
    Weighted average – basic and diluted     238.3     239.0     239.0  
             
    OPERATIONAL        
    Royalty production volumes        
    Crude oil (bbls/d)     13,502     13,317     13,142  
    NGL (bbls/d)     2,520     2,482     2,535  
    Natural gas (MMcf/d)     55.9     55.1     62.1  
    Royalty Production (BOE/d)(6)     25,339     24,982     26,027  
             
    Realized pricing        
    Crude oil ($/bbl)     83.16     81.66     77.18  
    NGL ($/bbl)     44.51     40.68     44.18  
    Natural gas ($/Mcf)     1.73     1.23     1.89  
    Total ($/BOE)(6)     52.58     50.30     47.79  
             
    Operating netback per BOE ($)(7)     42.85     45.86     39.60  
             
    Funds from operations per BOE ($)     37.62     43.07     35.04  
             
    Oil price benchmarks        
    West Texas Intermediate (WTI) (US$/bbl)     71.39     70.27     76.95  
    Edmonton light sweet ($/bbl)     95.20     94.90     92.18  
    Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude oil differential to WTI (US$/bbl)     (12.67 )   (12.55 )   (19.33 )
             
    Natural gas price benchmarks        
    AECO Monthly Index ($/Mcf)     2.02     1.46     2.05  
    AECO Daily Index ($/Mcf)     2.16     1.48     2.50  
             
    Foreign exchange rate (US$/CAD$)     0.6976     0.7147     0.7411  

    (1)    Funds from operations and net earnings per share are calculated using the weighted average number of basic and diluted common shares outstanding.
    (2)    A dividend of $0.26 per share was declared on March 10, 2025. The dividend will be paid on April 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as at March 31, 2025.
    (3)    Dividend payout ratio is defined under the “Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios” section of this press release.
    (4)    Excluding right-of-use asset additions.
    (5)    See Note 13 “Capital Management” in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and Note 16 “Capital Management” in the annual audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
    (6)    See “Conversions of Natural Gas to BOE”.
    (7)    Operating netback per BOE is defined under the “Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios” section of this press release.

    CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

    A conference call to discuss the results will be held for the investment community on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, beginning at 6:30 a.m. MST (8:30 a.m. EST). To participate in the conference call, you are asked to register at one of the links provided below. Details regarding the call will be provided to you upon registration.

    Live call participant registration
    URL:  https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIadb5efe7e21145bda3895f295f81b293

    Live webcast participant registration (listen in only)
    URL:  https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/be75c3go

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This press release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) which may include, but are not limited to PrairieSky’s future plans, current expectations and views of future operations and contains forward-looking statements that the Company believes allow readers to better understand the Company’s business and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words “expect”, “expected to”, “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “objective”, “ongoing”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should”, “could”, “likely”, “believe”, “plans”, “intends”, “strategy” and similar expressions (including negative variations) are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, estimates regarding the impact of cold weather downtime on natural gas royalty production volumes, our expectations with respect to PrairieSky’s business and growth strategy and trajectory, including the benefits of the Company’s strategy of investing in low-cost oil plays, expectation that the 11 Lindbergh and 6 Onion Lake thermal oil wells spud in Q1 2025 will come on production in 2026 and the application of PrairieSky to renew the NCIB, the timing of when the NCIB will commence, the limit thereunder, and PrairieSky’s belief that repurchasing such common shares under the NCIB is a good allocation of PrairieSky’s capital resources and will enhance the value of the common shares held by remaining shareholders, and other statements.

    With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this press release, PrairieSky has made several assumptions including those described in detail in our MD&A and the Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024. Readers and investors are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. PrairieSky’s actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. PrairieSky can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits the Company will derive from them.

    By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond PrairieSky’s control, including but not limited to the impact of general economic conditions including inflation, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, lack of pipeline capacity, currency fluctuations, increasing interest rates, imprecision of reserve estimates, competitive factors impacting royalty rates, environmental risks, taxation, regulation, changes in tax or other legislation, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility, political and geopolitical instability, the risks and impacts of tariffs imposed between Canada and the United States (and other countries) or other restrictive trade measures, retaliatory or countermeasures implemented by such governments affecting trade between Canada and the United States (and other countries), including the potential introduction of regulatory barriers to trade and the effect on the demand and/or market price for commodities, and the Company’s ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. In addition, PrairieSky is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties in relation to acquisitions. These risks and uncertainties include risks relating to the potential for disputes to arise with counterparties, and limited ability to recover indemnification under certain agreements. The foregoing and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions are described in more detail in PrairieSky’s MD&A and the Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the headings “Risk Management” and “Risk Factors”, respectively, each of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and PrairieSky’s website at www.prairiesky.com.

    Further, any forward-looking statement is made only as of the date of this press release, and PrairieSky undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable securities laws. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for PrairieSky to predict all of these factors or to assess, in advance, the impact of each such factor on PrairieSky’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    CONVERSIONS OF NATURAL GAS TO BOE

    To provide a single unit of production for analytical purposes, natural gas production and reserves volumes are converted mathematically to equivalent barrels of oil (BOE). PrairieSky uses the industry-accepted standard conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf = 1 bbl). The 6:1 BOE ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip. It does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead and is not based on either energy content or current prices. While the BOE ratio is useful for comparative measures and observing trends, it does not accurately reflect individual product values and might be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. As well, given that the value ratio, based on the current price of crude oil to natural gas, is significantly different from the 6:1 energy equivalency ratio, using a 6:1 conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication of value.

    NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RATIOS

    Certain measures and ratios in this press release do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, are considered non-GAAP measures and ratios. These measures and ratios may not be comparable to similar measures and ratios presented by other issuers. These measures and ratios are commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry and by PrairieSky to provide potential investors with additional information regarding the Company’s liquidity and its ability to generate funds to conduct its business. Non-GAAP measures and ratios include operating netback per BOE and dividend payout ratio. Management’s use of these measures and ratios is discussed further below. Further information can be found in the Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios section of PrairieSky’s MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

    “Operating netback per BOE” represents the cash margin for products sold on a BOE basis. Operating netback per BOE is calculated by dividing the operating netback (royalty production revenue less production and mineral taxes and cash administrative expenses) by the average daily production volumes for the period. Operating netback per BOE is used to assess the cash generating and operating performance per unit of product sold and the comparability of the underlying performance between years. Operating netback per BOE measures are commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry to assess performance comparability. Refer to the Operating Results table on page 6 of PrairieSky’s MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and page 7 of PrairieSky’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024.

        Three months ended
        March 31 December 31 March 31
    ($ millions)   2025 2024 2024
    Cash from operating activities     90.7     91.3     79.7  
    Other revenue     (8.2 )   (20.0 )   (7.5 )
    Other revenue – non-cash     –     8.2     –  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs     (0.1 )   (0.2 )   (0.1 )
    Finance expense     2.9     2.3     3.7  
    Current tax expense     17.3     16.2     14.7  
    Interest on lease obligation     –     (0.1 )   –  
    Net change in non-cash working capital     (4.9 )   7.7     3.3  
    Operating netback     97.7     105.4     93.8  

    “Operating Margin” represents operating netback as a percentage of royalty production revenue. Management uses this measure to demonstrate the comparability between the Company and production and exploration companies in the oil and natural gas industry as it shows net revenue generation from operations.

        Three months ended
        March 31 December 31 March 31
    ($ millions)   2025 2024 2024
    Royalty production revenue   119.9     115.6     113.2  
    Operating netback   97.7     105.4     93.8  
    Operating margin   81 % 91 % 83 %

    “Dividend payout ratio” is calculated as dividends declared as a percentage of funds from operations. Payout ratio is used by dividend paying companies to assess dividend levels in relation to the funds generated and used in operating activities.

        Three months ended
        March 31 December 31 March 31
    ($ millions, except otherwise noted)   2025 2024 2024
    Funds from operations     85.8     99.0     83.0  
    Dividends declared     61.2     59.9     59.7  
    Dividend payout ratio   71 % 61 % 72 %


    ABOUT PRAIRIESKY ROYALTY LTD.

    PrairieSky is a royalty company, generating royalty production revenues as oil and natural gas are produced from its properties. PrairieSky has a diverse portfolio of properties that have a long history of generating funds from operations and that represent the largest and most consolidated independently-owned fee simple mineral title position in Canada. PrairieSky’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PSK.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Andrew M. Phillips
    President & Chief Executive Officer
    PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.
    (587) 293-4005 

    Michael T. Murphy
    Vice-President, Geosciences & Capital Markets
    PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.
    (587) 293-4056 

    Investor Relations
    (587) 293-4000
    www.prairiesky.com

    		 Pamela P. Kazeil
    Senior Vice-President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer
    PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.
    (587) 293-4089

    PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/582f0ac4-3c4f-4983-afeb-621e284659ef

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JUSTIN CABRERA, also known as “J.U.,” 26, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 204 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.

    Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang.  On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Cabrera and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

    On October 31, 2017, four 960 members used a stolen car to carry out a drive-by shooting of members of ATM, a rival gang, at the corner of Bank Street and Porter Street in Waterbury.  An ATM member was shot and wounded in the attack.  Cabrera drove a second vehicle, or “trail car,” used in the shooting, conducted surveillance of ATM members prior to the shooting, and picked up the shooters after the event.

    Cabrera has been detained since September 16, 2021.  On September 16, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

    This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, who were cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.

    This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

    PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. DeGette Pens Op-Ed for Washington Post: “This is a crisis for American public health.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    Washington Post: The Trump-Kennedy cuts at NIH will crush our leadership in biomedicine.

    When Donald Trump accepted the 2024 GOP nomination for president, he included in his speech the importance of American leadership in biomedical innovation. “We’re going to get to the cure for cancer and Alzheimer’s and so many other things,” he said. “We’re so close to doing something great. But we need a leader that will let it be done.”

    Trump is failing to be that leader. In late March, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a U.S. DOGE Service directed restructuring of HHS, which included firing 10,000 staff and combining vital agencies. The men and women fired included staff who support research into groundbreaking cures and treatments.

    Eliminating such a large portion of the HHS workforce will put the lives of millions of Americans at risk as lifesaving cures and treatments are pushed further into the future and public health takes a back seat to personal grievance and paranoia.

    As the authors of the 21st Century Cures Act, adopted by Congress in 2016, we are mortified at these extreme actions and what they will do to the future of American biomedical innovation.

    America did not get to be a world leader in biomedical research by accident. When we were crafting that law, we sat down with Francis Collins, then the director of the National Institutes of Health, and asked him what he needed to propel biomedical research forward and speed up the development of new treatments and cures.

    Together, a Democrat and a Republican, we authored and enacted the bill, passing through the House by a vote of 392-26 and through the Senate by a vote of 94-5 in 2016. The measure strengthened the NIH, spurred innovation and set the stage for lifesaving medical breakthroughs.

    Yet, today, the NIH has been paralyzed. Grant awards slowed dramatically in part because advisory councils had been frozen for months, and many critical grants to research institutions have been canceled.

    Even worse, the Trump administration is firing thousands across HHS, causing chaos and confusion as researchers are reportedly waiting for the email that says they no longer have a job. They are forcing out highly respected leaders like Peter Marks, one of the top vaccine officials at HHS. His resignation letter speaks for itself: “I was willing to work to address the Secretary’s concerns regarding vaccine safety and transparency. … However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”

    Kennedy is making clear that he does not trust the science, and that is going to ruin our ability to lead in biomedical research.

    Critical research on the next frontier of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes is being canceled. PhD programs are rescinding offers of admission because of uncertainty. And the pipeline of young, brilliant scientists — our next generation of biomedical pioneers — is in jeopardy.

    This is a crisis for American public health. From 2010 to 2019, NIH funding contributed to 354 out of 356 new drug approvals. NIH-supported research has driven progress in cancer treatments, Type 1 diabetes management and countless other medical breakthroughs that have improved and saved lives.

    Without a strong NIH, the biopharmaceutical industry stagnates, medical advancements stall and the United States risks falling behind in the race for the next generation of treatments and cures. That is why we call on Trump, Kennedy and newly confirmed NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to take direction from the president’s 2024 own nomination speech.

    The price of the administration’s action is already adding up. Just recently, NIH scientists published a new paper on a breakthrough toward using a patient’s own cells to combat gastrointestinal cancers. However, that work is in jeopardy because layoffs hit the NIH the same day that paper was published.

    Also caught in the layoffs at HHS are those responsible for research into cures and treatments for Alzheimer’s. Reducing federal funding for this research is going to delay lifesaving cures and reduce hope for the Americans living with Alzheimer’s and their families who care for them.

    We need leaders who recognize the value of the NIH and the minds who fuel our biomedical research. All of us — research institutions, industry, congressional leaders and patients — should support the lifesaving work done by the NIH and by American scientists and researchers.

    Bhattacharya and Kennedy have a choice. They can set aside past grievances and political disputes to ensure that the U.S. remains the world’s premier biomedical research center. Or they can follow misguided beliefs and allow paralysis and division to imperil America’s advantage in science and research. 

    Diana DeGette, a Democrat, represents Colorado’s 1st Congressional District in the House. Fred Upton is a former Republican congressman from Michigan. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Prepares Second Asteroid Encounter

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is 6 days and less than 50 million miles (80 million km) away from its second close encounter with an asteroid; this time, the small main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson.

    [embedded content]
    Download high-resolution video and images from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.NASA/Dan Gallagher

    This upcoming event represents a comprehensive “dress rehearsal” for Lucy’s main mission over the next decade: the exploration of multiple Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. Lucy’s first asteroid encounter – a flyby of the tiny main belt asteroid Dinkinesh and its satellite, Selam, on Nov. 1, 2023 – provided the team with an opportunity for a systems test that they will be building on during the upcoming flyby.
    Lucy’s closest approach to Donaldjohanson will occur at 1:51pm EDT on April 20, at a distance of 596 miles (960 km). About 30 minutes before closest approach, Lucy will orient itself to track the asteroid, during which its high-gain antenna will turn away from Earth, suspending communication. Guided by its terminal tracking system, Lucy will autonomously rotate to keep Donaldjohanson in view. As it does this, Lucy will carry out a more complicated observing sequence than was used at Dinkinesh. All three science instruments – the high-resolution greyscale imager called L’LORRI, the color imager and infrared spectrometer called L’Ralph, and the far infrared spectrometer called L’TES – will carry out observation sequences very similar to the ones that will occur at the Trojan asteroids.
    However, unlike with Dinkinesh, Lucy will stop tracking Donaldjohanson 40 seconds before the closest approach to protect its sensitive instruments from intense sunlight.
    “If you were sitting on the asteroid watching the Lucy spacecraft approaching, you would have to shield your eyes staring at the Sun while waiting for Lucy to emerge from the glare. After Lucy passes the asteroid, the positions will be reversed, so we have to shield the instruments in the same way,” said encounter phase lead Michael Vincent of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado. “These instruments are designed to photograph objects illuminated by sunlight 25 times dimmer than at Earth, so looking toward the Sun could damage our cameras.” 
    Fortunately, this is the only one of Lucy’s seven asteroid encounters with this challenging geometry. During the Trojan encounters, as with Dinkinesh, the spacecraft will be able to collect data throughout the entire encounter.
    After closest approach, the spacecraft will “pitch back,” reorienting its solar arrays back toward the Sun. Approximately an hour later, the spacecraft will re-establish communication with Earth.
    “One of the weird things to wrap your brain around with these deep space missions is how slow the speed of light is,” continued Vincent. “Lucy is 12.5 light minutes away from Earth, meaning it takes that long for any signal we send to reach the spacecraft. Then it takes another 12.5 minutes before we get Lucy’s response telling us we were heard. So, when we command the data playback after closest approach, it takes 25 minutes from when we ask to see the pictures before we get any of them to the ground.”
    Once the spacecraft’s health is confirmed, engineers will command Lucy to transmit the science data from the encounter back to Earth, which is a process that will take several days.
    Donaldjohanson is a fragment from a collision 150 million years ago, making it one of the youngest main belt asteroids ever visited by a spacecraft. 
    “Every asteroid has a different story to tell, and these stories weave together to paint the history of our solar system,” said Tom Statler, Lucy mission program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The fact that each new asteroid we visit knocks our socks off means we’re only beginning to understand the depth and richness of that history. Telescopic observations are hinting that Donaldjohanson is going to have an interesting story, and I’m fully expecting to be surprised – again.”
    NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, designed and built the L’Ralph instrument and provides overall mission management, systems engineering and safety and mission assurance for Lucy. Hal Levison of SwRI’s office in Boulder, Colorado, is the principal investigator. SwRI, headquartered in San Antonio, also leads the science team and the mission’s science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft, designed the original orbital trajectory and provides flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace are responsible for navigating the Lucy spacecraft. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, designed and built the L’LORRI (Lucy Long Range Reconnaissance Imager) instrument. Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, designed and build the L’TES (Lucy Thermal Emission Spectrometer) instrument. Lucy is the thirteenth mission in NASA’s Discovery Program, which is managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
    By Katherine Kretke, Southwest Research Institute
    Media Contact:Karen Fox / Molly WasserHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov
    Nancy N. JonesNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With NASA’s Webb, Dying Star’s Energetic Display Comes Into Full Focus

    Source: NASA

    Gas and dust ejected by a dying star at the heart of NGC 1514 came into complete focus thanks to mid-infrared data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Its rings, which are only detected in infrared light, now look like “fuzzy” clumps arranged in tangled patterns, and a network of clearer holes close to the central stars shows where faster material punched through.
    “Before Webb, we weren’t able to detect most of this material, let alone observe it so clearly,” said Mike Ressler, a researcher and project scientist for Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California. He discovered the rings around NGC 1514 in 2010 when he examined the image from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). “With MIRI’s data, we can now comprehensively examine the turbulent nature of this nebula,” he said.
    This scene has been forming for at least 4,000 years — and will continue to change over many more millennia. At the center are two stars that appear as one in Webb’s observation, and are set off with brilliant diffraction spikes. The stars follow a tight, elongated nine-year orbit and are draped in an arc of dust represented in orange.
    One of these stars, which used to be several times more massive than our Sun, took the lead role in producing this scene. “As it evolved, it puffed up, throwing off layers of gas and dust in in a very slow, dense stellar wind,” said David Jones, a senior scientist at the Institute of Astrophysics on the Canary Islands, who proved there is a binary star system at the center in 2017.
    Once the star’s outer layers were expelled, only its hot, compact core remained. As a white dwarf star, its winds both sped up and weakened, which might have swept up material into thin shells.

    Webb’s observations show the nebula is tilted at a 60-degree angle, which makes it look like a can is being poured, but it’s far more likely that NGC 1514 takes the shape of an hourglass with the ends lopped off. Look for hints of its pinched waist near top left and bottom right, where the dust is orange and drifts into shallow V-shapes.
    What might explain these contours? “When this star was at its peak of losing material, the companion could have gotten very, very close,” Jones said. “That interaction can lead to shapes that you wouldn’t expect. Instead of producing a sphere, this interaction might have formed these rings.”
    Though the outline of NGC 1514 is clearest, the hourglass also has “sides” that are part of its three-dimensional shape. Look for the dim, semi-transparent orange clouds between its rings that give the nebula body.

    The nebula’s two rings are unevenly illuminated in Webb’s observations, appearing more diffuse at bottom left and top right. They also look fuzzy, or textured. “We think the rings are primarily made up of very small dust grains,” Ressler said. “When those grains are hit by ultraviolet light from the white dwarf star, they heat up ever so slightly, which we think makes them just warm enough to be detected by Webb in mid-infrared light.”
    In addition to dust, the telescope also revealed oxygen in its clumpy pink center, particularly at the edges of the bubbles or holes.
    NGC 1514 is also notable for what is absent. Carbon and more complex versions of it, smoke-like material known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are common in planetary nebulae (expanding shells of glowing gas expelled by stars late in their lives). Neither were detected in NGC 1514. More complex molecules might not have had time to form due to the orbit of the two central stars, which mixed up the ejected material. A simpler composition also means that the light from both stars reaches much farther, which is why we see the faint, cloud-like rings.
    What about the bright blue star to the lower left with slightly smaller diffraction spikes than the central stars? It’s not part of this nebula. In fact, this star lies closer to us.
    This planetary nebula has been studied by astronomers since the late 1700s. Astronomer William Herschel noted in 1790 that NGC 1514 was the first deep sky object to appear genuinely cloudy — he could not resolve what he saw into individual stars within a cluster, like other objects he cataloged. With Webb, our view is considerably clearer.
    NGC 1514 lies in the Taurus constellation approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth.
    The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.
    To learn more about Webb, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/webb
    Downloads
    Click any image to open a larger version.
    View/Download all image products at all resolutions for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.

    Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    Claire Blome – cblome@stsci.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
    Christine Pulliam – cpulliam@stsci.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.

    Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL)

    Read more about other planetary nebulae
    Watch: ViewSpace video about planetary nebulae
    View images of other planetary nebulae on AstroPix
    More Webb News
    More Webb Images
    Webb Science Themes
    Webb Mission Page

    What is the Webb Telescope?
    SpacePlace for Kids
    En Español
    Ciencia de la NASA
    NASA en español 
    Space Place para niños

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces Call for New Computing Approaches to Earth Science

    Source: NASA

    In an open challenge, NASA is seeking innovative business models that propose new approaches to solving complex Earth science problems using unconventional computing methods and is holding an informational webinar on Monday, April 28.  
    The agency’s Beyond the Algorithm Challenge, sponsored by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office, asks for proposals to more rapidly and accurately understand our home planet using transformative computing methods such as quantum computing, quantum machine learning, neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing, or other approaches.  
    The Beyond the Algorithm Challenge kicked off in March and consists of three phases. Participant submissions, which are due on July 25, will be evaluated based on creativity, technical feasibility, impact, business model evaluation, and presentation. Up to 10 finalists will be invited to present their ideas to a panel of judges at a live pitch event, and winners will a monetary prize.  
    For details about the challenge, interested participants can sign up for the informational webinar on Monday, April 28, here. 
    Using the vantage point of space, NASA’s observations of Earth increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives, and safeguard our future. The capabilities of NASA’s Earth Science Division include developing new technology, delivering actionable science, and providing environmental information to meet the increased demand for more sophisticated, more accurate, more trustworthy, and more actionable environmental information for decision-makers and policymakers.  
    For example, rapid flood analysis is one area that may benefit from computing advancements. Flood hazards affect personal safety and land use, directly affecting individual livelihoods, community property, and infrastructure development and resilience. Advanced flood analysis capability enables contributions to protect and serve impacted communities, making a tangible difference in areas such as disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience.  
    Advancements in computing capabilities show promise in overcoming processing power, efficiency, and performance limitations of conventional computing methods in addressing Earth science challenges like rapid flood analysis. Quantum computers offer a fundamentally different paradigm of computation and can solve certain classes of problems exponentially faster than their classical counterparts. Likewise, quantum machine learning offers the potential to reduce required training data or produce more accurate models. The emerging field of neuromorphic, or brain-inspired, computing holds significant promise for algorithm development optimized for high-speed, low power. And in-memory computing saves time and energy for data-heavy processes like artificial intelligence training. 
    Blue Clarity is hosting the Beyond the Algorithm Challenge on behalf of NASA. The NASA Tournament Lab, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate, manages the challenge. The program supports global public competitions and crowdsourcing as tools to advance NASA research and development and other mission needs. 
    For more information about the contest and a full list of rules and eligibility requirements, visit:  
    https://www.nasa-beyond-challenge.org

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the effect of global warming on persistence and intensity of marine heatwaves

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in PNAS looks at global warming and the intensity of marine heatwaves. 

    Dr Caroline Rowland, Scientific Strategic Head for Ocean Cryosphere and Climate, Met Office, said:

    “We should all care about marine heatwaves because societies around the world depend on the ocean; changes to ocean temperatures can have wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems and fisheries. There is growing evidence that the intensity and frequency of marine heatwaves – driven by climate change – can contribute to impactful weather events both around the UK and globally with obvious impacts for human health.

    “The record-breaking UK land temperatures in June 2023 were amplified by an unprecedented marine heatwave in UK waters that occurred simultaneously with the land heatwave. The increasing intensity and frequency of marine heatwaves due to climate change can increase the severity of storms – including tropical cyclones – and heatwaves on land.

    What are the key points readers should take from the study?

    “Anthropogenic climate change is the major cause of observed increases in intensity, frequency and duration of marine heatwaves (MHW) both globally and regionally

    “Natural year-to-year climate variability does contribute to extreme Marine temperatures, however, MHW are longer and more intense due to the long-term warming of the seas due to anthropogenic climate change.

    “MHWs are shown to increase in length in the tropics and in intensity and length in the mid-latitudes. The North and Baltic Seas have seen a larger increase relative to other regions (likely because of their shallow nature and their lower salinity: their excess heat is less likely exported to the deeper ocean).

    “The results of this paper are largely consistent with the assessment of MHWs in IPCC AR6 WG1 Box 9.2.

    Why are marine heatwaves important for people – why should they care?

    “The public should care about Marine Heatwaves because humans depend on the ocean; changes to ocean temperatures can have wide ranging impacts including to ecosystems and fisheries. There is growing evidence that MHWs contribute to weather events both around the UK and globally which can have significant impacts to human and animal health. Record-breaking UK land temperatures in June 2023 were amplified by an unprecedented Marine Heatwave in UK waters that occurred simultaneously with the land heatwave [1]. The intensity of cyclones in tropical regions has also been shown to be magnified by MHW. The increasing intensity and frequency of MHW due to climate change has the potential to increase the severity of storms and heatwaves on land.

    Are there any important caveats that we should be aware of?

    “Although we know that there are wide ranging impacts to ecosystems and fisheries from global MHW, there are large gaps in our knowledge of MHW impacts to ecosystems in UK waters, particularly coastal regions.

     “This paper also further strengthens the need for evidence to quantify the role of anthropogenic climate change on the frequency and duration of MHWs.”

    1- https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01413-8

     

    Dr Jeffrey Kargel, Senior Scientists, Planetary Science Institute, said:

    “The work by Marta Marcos and colleagues is richly informative about global warming’s oceanic influences. The authors computed sea surface temperatures under the observed atmospheric conditions with global warming included, and then re-doing the sea surface computation by removing the long-term influence of the warming atmosphere and just leaving in the hot spells and cold spells.

    “Interestingly, the authors found that most–but not all–of the observed intensity of extreme hot ocean surface episodes, and about half of the number of days of extreme ocean warmth are explained directly by global warming. This relationship is readily understood. However, when I read this, I zeroed in on the fact that there have been more days and greater intensities of extreme ocean surface warmth than global warming alone accounts for. I suspect that the excess over predictions could be related to the controversial but much-reported slow-down of the jet streams and the frequent “stuck” jet streams. Instead of continuing on their usual eastward migration, jet streams and associated high- and low-pressure systems have frequently become “stuck” in place, leaving parts of the ocean surface (land surface as well) subjected to blistering hot conditions. This is a likely indirect influence of global warming. Global climate change is not only about warming, but about the disruption of all parts of the climate system, including jet streams. That influence, in turn, affects the sea surface temperature in extreme ways, which then affects hurricanes and weather systems that extend into continental interiors.   

    “The weakening and stagnating jet streams in relationship to global warming and melting sea ice was first discovered and explained by Jennifer Francis. If her model is correct, as seems increasingly likely as observations accrue, then combined with this new paper by Marcos and colleagues, it could suggest that the stuck jet streams may impose a multiplier effect on global warming’s influence on sea surface temperatures and extreme weather on land, too.”

    Dr Zoe Jacobs, Ocean and Climate Modeler, UK National Oceanography Centre, said:

    What are the key points readers should take from the study?

    “Human-induced global warming is responsible for nearly half of global marine heatwave (MHW) events since 1940.

    “Human-induced global warming has caused a 3-fold increase in the number of days per year experiencing MHW conditions. Globally, this means that, on average, we are experiencing 34 extra MHW days per year in recent years compared with the early period. This reaches 80 additional MHW days per year in some regions, including the equatorial Western Pacific and Atlantic, and parts of the tropical Indian Ocean.

    “It has also led to a global mean increase in MHW maximum intensity of 1oC, with the greatest increases observed outside the tropics.

    “Overall, their work reveals the dominant contribution of anthropogenic forcing to MHW increases, especially since the year 2000.

    “It is important to note that there will be high variability between individual events. For example, the MHW in the Tasman Sea in 2015-16 is found to almost entirely be due to global warming, whereas the Pacific Blob (2014-15) is found to be due to a mixture of global warming and natural climate variability.

    Why are marine heatwaves important for people – frankly, why should they care?

    “Wide ranging impacts have been documented for marine heatwave events worldwide. They have decimated coral reefs, seagrass meadows and kelp forests as well as fisheries and seabird colonies and even impacted larger species like seals and whales.

    “Because of this they pose significant risks to society, with some individual events causing millions of dollars of losses due to impacts on the fishing, aquaculture, and tourism industries. They have also been found to exacerbate heatwaves on land and have amplified extreme weather like hurricanes and storms.”

    Are there any important caveats that we should be aware of?

    “Using sea surface temperature (SST) data before the satellite record (pre-1980s) will have considerable uncertainties. Using a. 0.25o grid will have led to a lot of interpolation between actual observations due to incomplete spatial coverage.

    “The study focuses on summer MHW events only but MHWs can occur year-round, with seasonal differences in persistence and intensity likely.”

    ‘Global warming drives a threefold increase in persistence and 1 ◦C rise in intensity of marine heatwaves’ by Marcos et al. was published in PNAS at 20:00 UK time on Monday 14th April 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2413505122

    Declared interests

    Dr Jeffrey Kargel “I have no conflicts of interest related to this article or my commentary.”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Carter Congratulates Lori Frazier Bearden on her U.S. Department of Labor Appointment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Rep. Carter Congratulates Lori Frazier Bearden on her U.S. Department of Labor Appointment

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter today spoke on the House Floor to honor Savannah resident, Lori Frazier Bearden, for her appointment as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the United States Department of Labor.

    Watch and read his remarks here:

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lori Frazier Bearden, a resident of Savannah, Georgia, who will serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the United States Department of Labor.

    Ms. Bearden earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Columbus State University in Georgia and her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Auburn University.

    In this role, Ms. Bearden will assist Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in executing President Donald Trump’s mission of prioritizing American workers, veterans, and retirees.

    She will work to advance the ETA’s mission of contributing to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. labor market by providing high-quality job training, employment, labor market information, and income maintenance services, primarily through state and local workforce development programs.

    Ms. Bearden’s dedication to public service and expertise in navigating complex policy landscapes make her an asset to the Trump Administration.

    Ms. Bearden, congratulations on this exciting achievement.

    We all look forward to watching you succeed and wish you the best in your new role.

    Watch the full remarks here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 organised by NFSU in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 organised by NFSU in New Delhi

    PM Modi’s vision changed the entire landscape of the country’s criminal justice system

    The use of forensic science is imperative to stop borderless crimes

    In the coming decade, India will have the highest conviction rate in the world

    It is important to make forensic science a part of the criminal justice system so that no injustice is done to both the accused and the complainant

    7 campuses of National Forensic Sciences University have been built across the country, 9 more campuses will be built in another 6 months

    The government is trying to make the society crime-free by finding solutions to all challenges using forensic sciences

    NFSU is promoting trained manpower, research and indigenous technology

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 6:00PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 organized by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in New Delhi today as the Chief Guest. The theme of the conference was ‘Role of Forensic Science in Effective Implementation of New Criminal Laws and Combating Terrorism’. The conference was attended by many dignitaries including Justice V Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Attorney General Shri R Venkataramani, Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman, Bar Council of India Shri Manan Kumar Mishra, Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan and Vice Chancellor, NFSU Dr. J. M. Vyas.

    Paying tribute to Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that Babasaheb worked to finalize the Constitution of India. It was a Herculean task to finalize the Constitution after thousands of hours of intense discussion on every subject, but Babasaheb composed the Constitution by incorporating all aspects keeping in mind the needs of the country and with the idea of ​​maintaining the relevance of the Constitution for many years. Shri Shah said that our Constitution is not just a book. It has a system for the protection of the body, property and honor of every citizen and forensic science is now playing a very useful role in strengthening the criminal justice system associated with the protection of these three.

    Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are striving to make the justice system people-centric and scientific. Efforts are also being made to ensure that those seeking justice get justice on time and also have the satisfaction of getting justice. Through this, our aim is to create a safe, capable and competent India. Union Home Minister said that to strengthen the criminal justice system, the Government of India has brought three new criminal laws in the form of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

    Union Home Minister said that forensics is not a new idea in our country. Its detailed description is found in Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Kautilya’s Arthashashtra. Acharya Kautilya has guided the world in detail on topics like toxicology, identification of poison, body language of suspects, and identification of accused on the basis of speech.

    Shri Amit Shah said that without forensic science, it is not possible to deliver timely justice and increase the rate of conviction. He said that the entire scenario of crime has changed today. Now criminals use different means of technology, information and communication, due to which crime has now become borderless. Earlier, crime used to happen in a small part of a district, state or country, but now crime has become borderless. Modern crimes now transcend city, state, national, and even international boundaries. In such a situation, the importance of forensic science has increased a lot. Shri Shah said that when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and he was the Home Minister, the seed of Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, planted by Shri Narendra Modi in 2009, has now grown into a banyan tree in the form of the National Forensic Sciences University — the first university of its kind in the world. He said that it is a matter of joy for him that when the National Forensic Sciences University was established on 1 October 2020, Shri Narendra Modi was the Prime Minister and he was the Home Minister of the country.

    Union Home Minister said that PM Modi’s visionary leadership has brought significant transformation to the country’s criminal justice system. He emphasized that a system has been established where neither the accused nor the complainant is subjected to injustice. To ensure this balance, integrating forensic science into the criminal justice process is essential. Shri Shah highlighted that the steps taken in 2009 and 2020 to establish the Forensic Science University are not only producing skilled professionals but also paving the way for research across various fields. He noted that the university has become a trusted institution for forensic analysis in complex cases and has also evolved into a hub for equipping the country’s forensic laboratories with modern technology. He further added that the university offers a wide range of programs, including degree, diploma, PhD, and research courses. Additionally, it has developed and adopted numerous indigenous technologies and has created toolkits to supply these innovations to police forces across the nation.

    Shri Amit Shah underlined that following the directive of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to get rid the country of colonial-era laws, work on finalizing new criminal laws was carried out between 2019 and 2024. He noted that extensive discussions during this period revealed the extent to which the outdated laws were harming India’s criminal justice system. He emphasized that if laws are not updated in accordance with changing times, they become obsolete and irrelevant. He added that the original intent of the old criminal laws was not to deliver justice to Indian citizens but to uphold British rule. In contrast, the three new criminal laws introduced under PM Modi’s leadership have been crafted by Indians, for the protection and justice of Indian citizens. Shri Shah said that this represents the most significant legal reform of the 21st century. He further explained that the new laws provide a legal foundation for the use of modern technology and have been designed with a forward-looking approach — incorporating not only current technologies but also anticipating technological developments for the next 100 years.

    Union Home Minister said that the new laws have formally defined e-documents and e-summons. He explained that the method of technology used is irrelevant as long as the law recognizes e-documents, and similarly, once people accept e-summons, the mode of delivery no longer matters. He emphasized that technology has been integrated at every stage of the criminal justice process — from the crime scene to investigation, and through to the trial. Forensic investigation has been made mandatory for all crimes that carry a punishment of more than seven years. He expressed confidence that these changes will lead to India achieving the highest conviction rate in the world in the coming decade.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the conviction rate in the country is currently stands at 54 per cent. He said that terrorism has been defined in the new laws. Voice logs and digital voice mail have also been given a place. Arrangements have also been made in BNSS to give legal basis to audio, video recordings, videography of forensic evidence and digital records in interrogation. Arrangements have been made to ensure justice within the stipulated period by setting time limits for the police, prosecution and judicial system. He said that its results have also started coming. In some cases, the rapist was convicted in 23 days and within 100 days the triple murder case was solved and the culprit was punished. Union Home Minister said that this was possible because technical evidence was recognized in the trial. He said that efforts have also been made to digitize the digital system of the entire country.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that today 100 per cent police stations in the country have been computerized through Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS). About 14 crore 19 lakh FIRs and their related documents have been made available online along with legacy data. 22 thousand courts have been equipped with the e-court facilities. Data of 2 crore 19 lakh is available through e-prison. Prosecution data of 1 crore 93 lakh cases is available through e-prosecution. 39 lakh forensic evidences are available online through e-forensics. He said that 16 lakh alerts have been generated from this. Fingerprints of 1 crore 53 lakh accused are available in the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). These fingerprints have been shared with every police station. National Database of Human Trafficking Offender is also available. Shri Shah added that this data is separate right now, but in the next few years, the Home Ministry will hand over this data to the investigating teams using Artificial Intelligence. He said that then it will become very easy to formulate a strategy to prevent crime and it will also be very beneficial in controlling crime.

    Union Home Minister said that due to the farsightedness of PM Modi, we had established the National Forensic Sciences University in the year 2020 itself, while three new criminal laws came into force in 2024. He said that seven campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University have been established in different states of the country. 9 more campuses will be established in the next 6 months. Apart from these, the establishment of 10 more campuses is proposed. Shri Shah said that there will be no state in the country where there is no campus of National Forensic Sciences University. We will work to make each campus the best unit in the world by giving it one subject. The students of the university will be helped in research and development so that they achieve heights in research and make the campus the best in the allotted subject. Home Minister said that after its completion, every year 36 thousand diploma and degree holder youth will pass out from these campuses and strengthen our criminal justice system.

    Shri Amit Shah said that there is a need for 30,000 trained professionals to visit every crime scene where the punishment is more than seven years. He noted that each year, around 36,000 students will graduate from the National Forensic Sciences University, many of whom will go on to work in private forensic laboratories as well. He further mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is working on an agreement between private and government Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs), allowing certain samples received by government FSLs to also be analyzed by private labs. He added that NFSU is advancing into several emerging fields, including drone forensics, smart city forensics, marine forensics, and corporate forensics. Shri Shah also highlighted the growing international presence of NFSU, stating that around 240 foreign students are currently enrolled, and that the university will continue to expand globally in the coming years.

    Union Home Minister emphasized the need to categorize offenders into habitual criminals, those driven to crime by circumstances, and those who committed crimes out of necessity. He stressed the importance of providing psychological counseling to such individuals within jails, with the goal of encouraging them to become responsible citizens. He expressed confidence that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India will be able to develop a robust forensic science-based system for prisoner rehabilitation within the next couple of years. Shri Shah also said that a Modus Operandi Bureau has been established, which will play a vital role in controlling crime by analyzing criminal behavior patterns.

    Shri Amit Shah acknowledged that the country faces numerous challenges, many of which can be addressed through the effective use of forensic science. He called for close collaboration between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Forensic Sciences University to work toward building a crime-free society through scientific solutions. Union Home Minister said that, during the conference, young individuals were recognized for their outstanding performance in the hackathon and their efforts to promote the use of the Hindi language.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Startup selected under NQM develops platform to empower enterprises protect their critical infrastructure

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 5:58PM by PIB Delhi

    QNu Labs, one of the startups selected by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), has launched world’s first and unique platform, QShield that enables seamless cryptography management across any environment — cloud, on-premises, or hybrid on the occasion of World Quantum Day today.

    QShield empowers enterprises to protect their critical infrastructure at scale -Built with QNu’s patented Quantum Key Distribution (Armos), Quantum Random Number Generator (Tropos), Quantum Hardware Security Module (QHSM) and NIST-compliant Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), QShield provides an end-to-end solution for securing sensitive data in transit and at rest.

    The launch of this platform adds one more step in India’s journey towards global leadership in quantum technology.

    QShield enables various services like Qosmos for key generation, QConnect for secured connectivity, QVerse for secured collaboration, QSFS for secure file storage and sharing, and QVault for key management, empowering enterprises a pathway to quantum-safe their critical and diverse infrastructures. With unified management, flexible deployment options, and easy integration with 3rd party services, QShield empowers enterprises to protect their critical data today — making them ready for a quantum-secured future.

    Incubated at IIT Madras Research Park in 2016, QNu Labs is revolutionizing cybersecurity with quantum-safe solutions, positioning India as a global leader in quantum cryptography.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit explores future of AI and digital technologies (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit explores future of AI and digital technologies  
         The WIC designated Hong Kong to host the Asia-Pacific Summit for the first time, affirming Hong Kong’s pivotal role as an important bridge and two-way platform connecting our country and the world. At the opening ceremony of the Summit this morning, the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Wang Yong, and the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered their remarks, while the Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China and Chairman of the WIC, Mr Zhuang Rongwen, gave a keynote speech. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the CEO of GSMA Ltd., Mr John Hoffman; the Chair of ZTE Corporation, Mr Fang Rong; the “father of the Internet in Africa”, Mr Nii Narku Quaynor, and other distinguished guests, also spoke at the opening ceremony, sharing their valuable insights on building an open and cooperative community with a shared future in cyberspace.
     
         After the opening ceremony, a government-enterprise dialogue session was co-hosted by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and the Secretary General of the WIC, Mr Ren Xianliang. The session brought together ministerial officials and senior representatives of industry corporations from countries and regions such as Algeria, Tanzania and Oman, as well as business leaders from Intel, Alibaba Cloud, Ping An Group and many more to conduct in-depth exchanges on ways to harness I&T to drive economic development, support enterprises’ overseas expansion, inject new impetus for economic growth, and actively building practical cooperation platforms. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, also attended the session and delivered a speech, introducing the latest development of Hong Kong’s digital government.
     
         The focus of the Summit in the afternoon was the main forum on the digital intelligence future which covered three key thematic sections: “Building robust foundations for a digital future”, “AI applications across industries” and “Security and governance in the digital era”. The forum had a stellar lineup of speakers, including the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Professor Sun Dong, alongside Co-Founder and CTO of Manycore Tech, Mr Zhu Hao, from Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” tech cluster; the CEO of Arm China, Mr Chen Feng; the General Manager of IBM Asia Pacific, Mr Hans Dekkers, and other representatives from renowned organisations and corporations. Additionally, the Summit hosted a briefing on Practice Cases and Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology and a workshop on AI governance and sustainable development to further promote exchange and collaboration in related fields.
     
         The Summit will present three sub-forums tomorrow (April 15) morning where internationally renowned speakers will conduct a deep discussion and exchange on “Large Artificial Intelligence Models”, “Digital Finance” and “Digital Government and Smart Life” to explore future development and potential across various domains in digital technology. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, will deliver a speech at the sub-forum on “Large Artificial Intelligence Models” and publish the “Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline”, showcasing Hong Kong’s leading role in the field of AI governance. Meanwhile, a series of affiliated activities including a cybersecurity emergency response advanced training programme and a “Workshop on AI & Cybersecurity: Strategies for Attack and Defence in the Intelligent Era” will also be held. Details of the Summit are available on the event website wicinternet.org/WICAsiaPacificSummit.html 
         Furthermore, Hong Kong’s annual I&T mega event, the Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BIT Week), takes place concurrently in April, featuring a series of exciting I&T activities, including the InnoEX, Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference, Xiangjiang Nobel Forum, and more, further elevating Hong Kong’s I&T atmosphere to new heights and accelerating its development into an international I&T centre.
    Issued at HKT 18:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets with guest speakers of World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit held in Hong Kong for first time (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CE meets with guest speakers of World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit held in Hong Kong for first time  
    This morning, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, met with Mr Wang. Mr Lee noted that the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress was successfully convened in Beijing last month. A Government work report proposed to develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions and pursue integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation. The HKSAR Government is actively developing new quality productive forces and new industrialisation initiatives, with the innovation and technology industry expected to achieve high-quality development. It is also accelerating the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, striving to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages in connecting the Mainland with the world, further deepening international exchanges and co-operation, and exploring new opportunities in innovation and technology.
     
    In the afternoon, Mr Lee, accompanied by the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, met with Mr Zhuang. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the CAC for its continued support to the HKSAR Government and its collaboration with the ITIB in promoting cross-border data flows within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Noting that data is a key driving force of innovation and high-quality development, Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with the CAC to facilitate Hong Kong’s active integration into the national data development and the digital economy development in the GBA.
     
    The WIC Asia-Pacific Summit is being held today and tomorrow (April 15) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme of “Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”. The summit brings together representatives from governments and enterprises, international organisations, leading corporations, experts and scholars from home and abroad to engage in in-depth exchanges on various technological areas, promoting the high-quality development of innovation and technology.
    Issued at HKT 18:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Regulation of airborne microplastics under EU environmental and health legislation – E-001389/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001389/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Biljana Borzan (S&D)

    An expanding body of scientific research confirms the presence of microplastics in atmospheric particulate matter, including PM 2.5 and PM 10 fractions. Inhalation of these particles, particularly in urban and industrial areas, represents a potentially significant route of human exposure, with implications for respiratory and systemic health.

    Currently, EU legislation on microplastics focuses primarily on the contamination of water and soil. Emissions of airborne microplastics – arising from tyre and road wear, industrial processes, construction activities, and the degradation of synthetic textiles – remain largely unregulated, creating a potential gap in the EU’s environmental and public health policy framework.

    In this context:

    • 1.Can the Commission clarify whether it intends to expand existing legislative instruments, such as Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, to explicitly include airborne microplastics within the scope of air quality monitoring and regulation?
    • 2.Furthermore, is the Commission considering incorporating this issue into legislation on occupational health and industrial emissions?
    • 3.Finally, does the Commission plan to support the development of harmonised methodologies for monitoring airborne microplastics and the establishment of science-based threshold exposure levels for both indoor and outdoor environments?

    Submitted: 4.4.2025

    Last updated: 14 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Breaking copyright law can help EDM DJs get more gigs, but there’s a catch

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Amandine Ody-Brasier, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, McGill University

    DJs who release illegal remixes improve their chances of getting hired for live gigs, but only when their actions are seen as selfless. (Shutterstock)

    In most industries, breaking the law can end a career. But in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, certain forms of lawbreaking can have the opposite effect.

    Our recent study found that DJs who release illegal remixes — also called bootlegs — can improve their chances of getting hired for live gigs, but only when their actions are seen as serving the broader community rather than as a self-serving tactic.

    Most EDM artists support and respect copyright law and know that sharing a remix online without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal. They also recognize the importance of respecting others’ work, as illustrated by the public apology issued by Dutch DJ Hardwell in a recent feud with Swedish House Mafia over a trio of bootlegs.

    Yet in practice, bootlegs are not necessarily condemned, and in some cases, can even be supported by the community.

    Not all bootlegs are the same

    We studied the careers of nearly 39,000 DJs across 97 countries from 2007 to 2016, tracking their music production activity and live performances. Given the legal and reputational risks involved, illegal remixing is relatively uncommon. Our data suggest that fewer than 10 per cent of EDM DJs post bootlegs online.

    Still, we found that those who do post bootlegs tend to get more gigs than those who produce legal remixes or original tracks.

    Bootlegging refers to the unauthorized remixing, editing or distribution of a track without the official permission of the original artist or copyright holder.
    (Shutterstock)

    To better understand this surprising result, we complemented our secondary data analyses with an expert survey, an online experiment with almost 900 EDM fans and interviews with 34 industry professionals including DJs, promoters and label managers.

    Interestingly, we found that bootlegs weren’t generally seen as more creative, higher quality or attention-grabbing than legal remixes or original tracks. So why then did some DJs benefit from them?

    The answer lies in how the broader EDM community perceived the bootlegger’s intentions.

    Valuing disinterestedness

    We found that artists who were seen as disinterested — breaking the law to give back to the community — tended to be rewarded, despite violating copyright law.

    When bootlegs were perceived as homages to a peer, a gift to fans or a way to revive a beloved song, it triggered community support for the artist. Specifically, other community members would step in and provide that artist with more opportunities to perform and open for peers.

    Sharing a bootleg online increased the number of monthly opening acts a DJ played by 4.4 per cent — twice the impact of releasing official remixes or original music.

    This could explain seemingly surprising responses to bootlegs, like in 2019, when a young DJ named Imanbek Zeikenov remixed “Roses” by Saint Jhn and shared it online without obtaining the proper rights.

    The EDM community reacted positively to the remix, which helped propel Zeikenov’s career forward. He has since become an established artist and has opened for high-profile artists, including Saint Jhn himself.

    It’s clear the EDM community places a lot of value on disinterestedness. But the inverse is also true: when bootlegs were believed to be self-serving attempts to ride someone else’s success, the support quickly waned.

    In fact, bootleggers perceived as self-serving experienced a decrease of up to 10 per cent in the number of monthly bookings.

    Norms take precedence over formal regulations

    Many occupational communities rely on informal norms. Usually, the degree to which formal regulations align with an industry’s core values determines whether a community promotes, discourages or only superficially supports compliance with the law.

    However, in more ambiguous situations, compliance becomes discretionary, meaning community members must interpret unlawful actions themselves and decide whether to enforce or overlook them.

    While formal rules exist in EDM — like copyright law — they’re not always strictly enforced. When this happens, a community’s norms fill in the gap in a process known as “occupational self-regulation.” In the EDM scene, these informal norms include unspoken rules about remixing, collaboration and credit.

    As our study shows, this ambiguity has resulted in a system where EDM artists who break copyright laws can still gain informal support, provided their actions are seen as disinterested and beneficial to the broader community.

    Breaking the rules for the right reasons

    It’s important to note that EDM artists do not encourage lawbreaking per se, and that the DJs we interviewed described bootlegging as a practice born out of necessity — something artists resort to when they lack the resources to clear tracks.

    Community support in EDM hinges less on strict legal compliance and more on how an artist’s intent is perceived. For emerging DJs, this creates a delicate balancing act: breaking the law carries real risks, but under certain circumstances, it can paradoxically open a path to a legitimate career.

    EDM isn’t the only field where this kind of phenomenon occurs. It’s likely that other creative occupations that value disinterestedness will see similar dynamics play out. This is also true in academia or tech. For example, patent infringement in bioscience research may be treated differently, at least in part, because of perceived differences in scientists’ intentions.

    Ultimately, how these transgressions are judged comes down to their perceived motives and how the broader community makes sense of them. Sometimes, breaking the law isn’t just tolerated, but can even be a stepping stone to professional success.

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

    – ref. Breaking copyright law can help EDM DJs get more gigs, but there’s a catch – https://theconversation.com/breaking-copyright-law-can-help-edm-djs-get-more-gigs-but-theres-a-catch-252593

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On World Quantum Day, Colorado Announces Nation-Leading Steps to Elevate K–12 Quantum Learning

    Source: US State of Colorado

    The Polis Administration is charting a path forward to prepare students for great careers in the state’s rapidly growing quantum technology economy

    DENVER – Today, on World Quantum Day, the Polis Administration and Elevate Quantum announced the Blueprint for Advancing K–12 Quantum Information Technology, which puts forth a bold vision to prepare Colorado students for the technology careers of the future. The Blueprint outlines clear steps for lawmakers, educators, and district leaders to expand access to quantum education and provides a phased strategy to bring Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) concepts into classrooms, support educators, and engage students across Colorado.

    “Colorado is leading the way as the epicenter of quantum technology. As our state’s quantum economy continues to grow, we’re making sure educators and school leaders have the necessary tools to bring these concepts into the classroom so that every Colorado student can get the skills to thrive in the industries of tomorrow,” said Governor Polis.

    A new webpage from the Colorado Department of Education offers ready-to-use quantum K–12 lesson plans and activities designed to spark curiosity, build skills, and connect classroom learning to real-world careers. This will serve as a centralized hub where educators, students, and district leaders can explore curated quantum activities, classroom resources, professional development opportunities, and guidance on how to bring quantum into STEM instruction.

    “Colorado continues to be at the forefront of preparing students not just for today’s opportunities, but for the careers of tomorrow. This blueprint reflects our commitment to ensuring every student can explore, engage, and thrive in the evolving quantum economy,” said Commissioner of Education Susana Córdova.

    In 2023, following a competitive national process, Colorado earned federal recognition as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the state’s leadership in quantum science. Today, about 3,000 Colorado workers are employed in the quantum workforce and support more than 30 quantum technology companies. The QIST industry is expected to grow 18% annually, offering high-paying jobs across quantum computing, networking, sensing, and applications.

    “With the incredible ways the quantum industry is impacting Colorado’s economy, it’s critical for us to build the quantum talent pipeline now. By focusing on Colorado’s youth via this blueprint and our teacher externship program targeting the industry, more Colorado students will be exposed and energized about lucrative careers in quantum ultimately growing the homegrown talent pipeline for one of the state’s fastest growing industries,” said Joe Barela, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

    “Colorado leads the world in quantum research, quantum companies and quantum jobs, and we are committed to ensuring that Coloradans can develop the skills to be part of and contribute to this growing field. Introducing students of all ages to the exciting potential of quantum will help continue our leadership for the years and decades to come,” said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

    “To continue to lead in quantum, we need to expose students earlier to the concepts and competencies of quantum information science and technology (QIST). This blueprint does that and ensures that all Colorado students are familiar with QIST and its significance in the broader economy. Our community colleges and four-year universities stand ready to educate and train students—whether they’re working toward an industry certificate or a Ph.D.— and our new quantum incubator, which launched in January, is another way the state is bringing quantum physics out of the lab and into the real world,” said Dr. Angie Paccione, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

    “Colorado’s community colleges are proud to help lead the development of a quantum-ready workforce by building clear, direct pathways from K–12 into high-demand college programs. As a partner of Elevate Quantum—with Front Range Community College serving on its board—we’re not only preparing the next generation of technicians and innovators but also working to ensure students across the state are aware of and ready for these opportunities well before they reach college. The K–12 Quantum Blueprint is a critical step toward creating a seamless learning pipeline—from early exposure to robust career and technical education programs—that leads directly into college and career opportunities in this fast-growing field,” said Chancellor Joe Garcia of the Colorado Community College System.

    “Core to Elevate Quantum’s mission to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies, is ensuring that we have the trained and credentialed workforce necessary to fill the new jobs that will be needed to make this mission a reality. Having a strong blueprint for K-12 quantum education will be an important catalyst for building accessible pathways into quantum careers, inspiring the next generation of innovators, and ensuring Colorado remains a national leader in the quantum economy,” said Jessi Olsen, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Elevate Quantum.

    To help meet the growing demand for quantum talent in the state and to ensure Colorado continues to lead in the quantum economy, the Polis Administration has invested $75 million in state dollars for statewide quantum workforce and infrastructure development, as well as $40 million in federal funding through the Elevate Quantum tech hub.

    “Colorado’s economic future depends on our ability to nurture homegrown talent in cutting-edge fields. St. Vrain Valley Schools’ partnership with Elevate Quantum is creating an educational ecosystem where students develop quantum literacy from an early age, establishing our state as the premier destination for quantum industry growth,” said Don Haddad, Superintendent of St. Vrain Valley Schools.

    “Quantum awareness isn’t a specialized skill for a select few but a fundamental literacy that will enhance opportunities for students across all postsecondary pathways. We’re cultivating both the knowledge and enthusiasm needed for students to recognize how quantum innovations will empower their future, whether they become electricians, nurses, entrepreneurs, welders, engineers, HVAC technicians, or educators,” said Joe McBreen, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation of St. Vrain Valley Schools.

    Today’s announcement is part of the Polis Administration’s broader work to bridge the gap between education and workforce, ensuring all Coloradans can access the opportunities of the quantum future. To explore the Blueprint and classroom resources, visit cde.state.co.us/quantum.

    ###

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: LIFTing up STEM and life sciences education

    [. Alberta’s government continues to allocate funding in a responsible way that respects taxpayer dollars, while putting Alberta on the global stage with cutting-edge research and innovation.

    Through Budget 2025, Alberta’s government is investing $100 million over three years to turn the 56-year-old Biological Sciences Building at the University of Alberta into a world-leading STEM and life sciences research and education hub.

    The Biological Sciences building will be transformed into the Life Sciences Innovation and Future Technologies (LIFT) Centre, a dynamic and shared laboratory complex where researchers, students and industry partners can work together to solve the most urgent problems facing Alberta and the broader world. The facility is expected to double much-needed laboratory spaces for hands-on experimentation and increase access to high-demand programs across the university.

    “We are committed to strengthening our world-class post-secondary education system to ensure that the workforce we develop today can compete in the economic realities of tomorrow. This investment will double the Faculty of Science’s lab space, solidify the university’s reputation as top destination for students and researchers, and help prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    The project will be built in five phases and enable the University of Alberta to double the number of laboratory seats from 1,600 to 3,200, allowing for almost 2,500 new domestic students to access undergraduate programs in the faculties of Science, and Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences. There will also be about 700 additional graduate student spaces.

    “This significant investment in the Biological Sciences Building will empower more University of Alberta students to enter the health and life sciences and STEM fields, which are in high demand in our growing economy. This new facility will foster cutting-edge research, collaboration with industry and innovative ideas that will help students build the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    The complete redevelopment of the Biological Sciences Building will create Canada’s preeminent home for cutting-edge life sciences education, research, discovery and experiential learning, right here in Alberta. Through investments like the LIFT Centre, Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge of a growing population and building the workforce Alberta needs, today and in the future.

    “This substantial investment will advance Alberta as a global leader in STEM and life sciences research and education. It’s an exciting time at the university, as this investment enhances our position as an internationally renowned centre of innovation and knowledge and increases our capacity to educate the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”

    Bill Flanagan, president and vice-chancellor, University of Alberta

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick Facts

    • The Biological Sciences Building has not received any major renovations since its construction in 1969.
    • The funding will include major retrofitting and updating of complex utilities, controlled environments and advanced safety features.
    • The scope of the project includes renovations on level 4, level 5, level 10 (including mezzanine) and level 11 (including mezzanine) within the Zoology Wing to transform the space into a wet laboratory space.
    • When completed, the newly named LIFT Centre is expected to double the number of lab spaces to 3,200.

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: What parents need to know about online misogyny

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Annabel Hoare, Anglia Ruskin University

    The success of Netflix drama Adolescence, along with concerns about misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, has brought the “manosphere” into public discussion.

    Many parents, particularly of young boys, may fear they don’t know enough about what their children are exposed to online. I research radical misogyny online, and the pathways by which young people encounter these spaces. Here is what parents should know about this content.

    What is the manosphere?

    The manosphere is a network of communities that create, consume and distribute content online aimed at men and boys. It includes multiple groups that differ in their aims and focus, but are all largely anti-feminist.

    These groups discuss masculinity, but also topics such as health, gaming, politics and finance. They trivialise hateful rhetoric through memes, comedy and trolling (provocation or bullying for amusement) by framing it as self-help, entertainment and tools for financial success. This can make it difficult for parents to identify and for children to realise the extreme messages they are being exposed to.

    Manosphere content is promoted by various influencers on popular social media platforms. These influencers often showcase unattainable wealth and status, selling the illusion that followers can achieve success by adopting their teachings.

    The most notable manosphere influencer is Andrew Tate, who rose to fame in 2022. He and his brother Tristan are currently under investigation in Romania for charges of rape, human trafficking and money laundering, and in the UK for rape and human trafficking. However, he is not the only influencer out there.

    In recent years, there have been a number of incidents of violence that have been linked to manosphere content. The extent of real-world effects is difficult to measure, and not everyone who engages with the manosphere will go on to commit violence. But it’s clear that these communities can promote violence or spread harmful ideas about women and girls.

    It is important to note, however, that this content also harms men and young boys. The manosphere promotes unrealistic expectations and extreme measures which can lead to poor self-esteem, mental health problems and, in some cases, suicide. This content preys on vulnerabilities and insecurities of boys and young men, especially related to social isolation and sexual rejection.

    Misinformation and pseudoscience

    Much of the content that spreads in the manosphere is based on disinformation or pseudoscientific theories. These provide an easy framework for men to assess and improve their status while framing women and feminism as the problem.

    For example, the “80/20 rule” refers to the pseudoscientific theory that 80% of women are only attracted to the top 20% of men. In the manosphere, this rule is used to blame women for mens’ feelings of sexual or romantic rejection.

    Influencers and community members promote step-by-step instructions that people can follow to improve their social standing. Many of these guides involve extreme or harmful physical transformations in a phenomenon known as “looksmaxxing”, which can even involve facial surgery in a bid to increase their sexual “value”.

    The manosphere has an expansive lexicon which is used to incite hatred towards women and fuel rivalry between men. Common terms include:

    • Red pill: TRP, the manosphere’s core philosophy, derived from the Matrix, frames the red pill as an awakening to feminism’s oppression of men. The blue pill represents ignorance, and the black pill, used by incels, as accepting their “terminal” celibacy status.

    • Amog (alpha male of the group), Alpha, Gamma, Omega, Sigma, Sub-5 – These terms categorise and compare men and their social status. While sigma and alpha males or Amogs are considered the top of the hierarchy, the terms gamma, omega, and sub-5 denigrate men perceived to be of a lower status.

    • White Knight, Soyboy: Derogatory terms describe men who are viewed as being subservient to women.

    • Awalt (All women are like that), Foid/Femoid (female humanoid), Becky, Carousel: Terms used to denigrate and dehumanise women.

    Parents should not panic if they hear their children using manosphere terms. They may not fully understand their meanings and may have encountered them innocently. However, changes in how boys talk about women and girls, withdrawal from family and friends, and frequent use of these terms can be an indication that they are being influenced by the manosphere.

    Supporting your child

    Most adolescents will come across manosphere content at some point. A recent survey found that 59% of boys accessed manosphere content through innocent and unrelated searches. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they endorse the misogynistic values spread by these groups.

    Here are some steps you can take to support your child.

    1. Explore online together

    Research commissioned by media regulator Ofcom found that children were more likely to come across harmful content if their parents are less engaged in what they are doing. Watching content that relates to your children’s hobbies, and sending them content you think they would like, can help train algorithms to promote more moderate content and open up an avenue for discussion.

    Engaging online with your child can be a natural way to start conversations about what they are exposed to. It is important that you are not trying to intervene or critique, but rather understand why they enjoy watching certain influencers or content.

    2. Encourage reflection and media literacy

    Research suggests that teaching children to be sceptical about what they see online can inoculate them against mis- and disinformation.

    The most obvious disinformation they are most likely to come across in the manosphere may be in the form of statistics, summaries of “academic” reports, and news articles about instances of female aggression or false rape allegations. They may also come across misleading content in educational or self-help posts, about improving their appearance or how to be successful.

    Ask your children why they trust certain influencers and where they think their friends get their information. These kinds of questions can help them develop their own fact-checking skills without it seeming like a lesson.

    3. Ask open-ended questions

    Asking children about what they consume or what slang they use online can feel cringe. The best way to get around this is to ask simple open-ended questions such as “How do boys in your class talk about girls?” or “Have you ever heard of…?”

    What you hear may be shocking, but approach it with curiosity and without judgment or dismissal to let them know they can share things with you.

    If you are concerned about your child’s behaviour, you can also get support from resources such as Young Minds mental health support, the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s free parents guide or the government’s radicalisation helpline ACT Early. Getting support from government services is not a punishment. It won’t go on a person’s criminal record, but can provide access to governmental services like Prevent.

    Annabel Hoare, PhD Student in Gender-Based Political Violence, Anglia Ruskin University

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Leads Bicameral Letter to USDA, HHS, EPA on MAHA Commission Stance on Products Essential to Food and Agriculture

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Mark Alford (R-MO) alongside U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) led a bicameral group of colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin. 

    In the letter, the lawmakers call for the use of sound science and risk-based analysis as the MAHA Commission finalizes its work, particularly on crop protection tools, biotechnology, and food- and feed-grade ingredients.

    The lawmakers write, “We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.”

    “We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health,” the letter continues. “Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science,” 

    Read the full letter HERE or below.

    Dear Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, and Administrator Zeldin:

    We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny and to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.

    We also urge you to safeguard the work of the Make America Healthy Again Commission (Commission) from activist groups promoting misguided and sometimes even malicious policies masquerading as health solutions. The influence of these groups in the Commission would result in shoddy science; a less abundant, less affordable food supply; greater reliance on foreign adversaries for our food; diminished U.S. agricultural production and manufacturing; and, ultimately, poorer health outcomes.

    President Trump recently stated environmental activists were holding the economic prosperity of our country hostage. We now have concerns that they are seeking to influence the work of the Commission to advance their agenda. For decades activist groups have tried to ban safe, well-regulated agricultural inputs by any means necessary. Without these products, yields and quality are negatively impacted by otherwise avoidable insects, fungus, weeds, and other pest pressures. This drives up food prices for American consumers and forces reliance of food imports.

    The same groups have seized upon the Commission’s work as an opportunity to misrepresent the science on common food and feed categories or ingredients, such as plant-based oils. These inputs are subject to a robust, risk-based regulatory system which focuses on protecting human health. Unfounded accusations harm the U.S. farmers who grow our food, upend food and feed supply chains, and significantly increase grocery food prices – all without public health benefit.

    We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health. Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science.

    We applaud the Commission’s desire to improve the health and well-being of Americans. We implore you to ensure policy decisions are grounded in sound science and risk-based analyses. With unity, we can protect American agricultural producers from environmental activists’ attacks on proven-safe inputs critical to their profitability and long-term viability while promoting positive health outcomes.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Playing and exploring outdoors brings risk – and that’s good for children

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adele Doran, Principal Lecturer/Research & Innovation Lead, Sheffield Hallam University

    sirtravelalot/Shutterstock

    We are currently in the midst of a youth mental health crisis. In 2023 in England, a fifth of children aged eight to 16 had a probable mental disorder.

    One way to address children’s wellbeing is through letting them take part in outdoor risky play.

    When climbing trees, building dens, riding a bike fast, constructing rafts to float on water, or exploring a woodland, children make their own decisions on which risks to take and which to avoid. This empowers children to be decisive and independent in other situations, such as in their transition to secondary school, rather than relying on adult prompting or direction.

    Progressive incremental exposure to uncertainty and risk builds resilience and enhances overall wellbeing in young people. In our own research with 622 teenagers, we used questionnaires to measure their resilience and wellbeing before and after taking part in an outdoor adventure education residential trip. We found that their scores for wellbeing increased by 23%, their resilience by 36%.

    Outdoor risky play supports experimentation and exploration. It helps children develop social skills such as turn-taking and cooperation, and so gives them tools to overcome future challenges. It nurtures their curiosity. Children can be revitalised by being in nature, and by the adventurous uncertainty of playing without rules and restrictions.

    Forest school and residential trips

    One way children can play in this risky way with the support to build a healthy relationship with nature and risk is through regular attendance at a forest school.

    The forest school is a form of outdoor education where hands-on learning takes place in a woodland environment. It offers the chance for children to connect with nature, experience risk, build social skills and be active in their learning. This may include activities such as cooking on a campfire, doing nature-based arts and crafts, or building a den. It can be a weekly activity that children take part in for a few hours.

    Longer residential trips offer an extended opportunity to experience aspects of learning outdoors. These might be organised by a school or club, and include a variety of activities, such as orienteering, rock climbing, abseiling, and land and sea expeditions. These are aimed at developing leadership skills, resilience, autonomy and confidence. Children are challenged by exploring unfamiliar environments.

    Children make their own decisions about which risks to take.
    Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

    However, in order to be beneficial, risky outdoor play needs to be frequent, progressive and to take place throughout a child’s education. The benefits it provides cannot be achieved with a one-time forest school or residential experience.

    One option would be to make forest school and outdoor play a regular part of children’s school education.

    But the current schooling system in the UK and – in England – the school qualities valued by Ofsted do not support the holistic development of children. A school’s worth is primarily measured by attendance and attainment in a limited number of core subjects. Few opportunities exist for schools to implement a range of activities that purposefully boost and sustain learners’ wellbeing and encourage risky play.

    A shift in thinking is required for schools to recognise the worth of outdoor risky play, and for teachers to be empowered to embed the culture of educated risk-taking within and beyond their school gates.

    There have been calls in the Welsh and Scottish governments for a universal entitlement to a weeklong residential trip. Campaigns in England have called for all children to be guaranteed time in nature. But actual progress towards a goal of broadening opportunities for accessing outdoor activities and experiencing risky play is glacial.

    At a point in time when children have faced unprecedented upheaval and threats to their wellbeing, it has never been more important to create daily opportunities for them to build their ability to deal with uncertainties. Experiencing the outdoors and positive risk-taking are fundamental to the everyday lives of all young people.

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

    – ref. Playing and exploring outdoors brings risk – and that’s good for children – https://theconversation.com/playing-and-exploring-outdoors-brings-risk-and-thats-good-for-children-249538

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From trauma to anxiety and depression, how online sexual harassment can seriously harm victims’ mental health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Freya O’Brien, Senior Lecturer in Policing, Liverpool John Moores University

    dean bertoncelj/Shutterstock

    In today’s hyperconnected world, where much of our social and professional lives plays out online, the digital realm should feel safe and respectful. But for many, particularly women, young boys and marginalised groups, that’s far from reality. Cyber-sexual harassment is a growing and deeply harmful issue that demands greater awareness and action.

    Cyber-sexual harassment describes a wide range of unwanted or abusive sexual behaviour online. Gender harassment includes offensive messages, images, or memes targeting someone’s gender, often without direct sexual content – but still deeply degrading. Unwanted sexual attention online can take the form of unsolicited sexting or cyberflashing – sending sexually explicit images to another person without their consent.



    Read more:
    Cyberflashing is a form of gendered sexual violence that must be taken seriously

    Sexual coercion is using threats, blackmail or emotional manipulation to force someone into sharing intimate content or engaging in sexual behaviour online. A growing concern is sextortion – where victims are blackmailed with private images, often under, sometimes unbearable, pressure.

    According to UK police data, an average of 117 sextortion cases involving children were reported monthly between January and May 2024. The Internet Watch Foundation even found children as young as 11 being targeted.

    Terrible toll

    Cyber-sexual harassment isn’t just invasive – it’s damaging. Our study builds on clinical psychologist Marvin Iroegbu’s doctoral research on the relationship between cyber-sexual harassment and psychological difficulties in women. We found that women who experienced online sexual harassment reported significantly poorer mental health than those who hadn’t. Anxiety, depression, trauma and poor body image were all more likely. Our research suggests that this may stem from increased self-objectification and a heightened focus on physical appearance due to being targeted.

    Government research shows that women experience online abuse more frequently – and more severely – than men. Unwanted images, comments and messages are just the beginning. And the impact starts young. Studies highlight the psychological toll on both children and adults, noting that unexpected, anonymous and rapid abuse can leave victims feeling fearful, powerless, deeply ashamed and with low self-esteem.

    Our research also found that younger women and those with large social media followings are more frequently targeted for cyber-sexual harassment. This may be due to greater online visibility or time spent on platforms. Our study also found that women in newer or no romantic relationships reported higher levels of harassment.

    There’s also a clear link between online and offline abuse. Victims of cyber-sexual harassment were more likely to report in-person harassment too. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, online abuse often mirrors and extends to real-world gender-based violence.

    Unequal burden

    Cyber-sexual harassment disproportionately affects LGBT+ people and ethnic minorities. LGBT+ people often face sexualised threats, non-consensual outing and image-based abuse. People from ethnic minorities, meanwhile, are often subjected to racially charged sexual abuse, combining racism and misogyny.

    Research into how cyber-sexual harassment affects these groups is still lacking, however. Many national cybercrime studies fail to include data on race, gender identity, or sexual orientation – making it harder to advocate for targeted support.

    While the Online Safety Bill now allows for prosecution of offences such as cyberflashing – with recent convictions in some cases leading to prison sentences for the offender – many victims still don’t report abuse. Barriers include frustrating reporting systems, victim-blaming, and the perception among victims that their complaints won’t be taken seriously.

    New legislation should be assessed to see whether it sufficiently supports victims, encourages reporting, leads to convictions and deters perpetrators.

    Many charities and organisations now provide support for online abuse victims – but more needs to be done. Mental health professionals are encouraged to consider online experiences as part of their patient assessments. Meanwhile, research like ours explores how different types of cyber-sexual harassment – such as the frequency or content of explicit messages – affect people differently.

    One thing is clear: cyber-sexual harassment is intrusive, traumatic and rooted in a lack of respect for consent. Cyberflashing and other forms of online sexual abuse are not harmless jokes. They’re violations. And no one should have to deal with them in silence.

    Freya O’Brien 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. From trauma to anxiety and depression, how online sexual harassment can seriously harm victims’ mental health – https://theconversation.com/from-trauma-to-anxiety-and-depression-how-online-sexual-harassment-can-seriously-harm-victims-mental-health-226531

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How paranormal beliefs help people cope in uncertain times

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew Denovan, Senior lecturer in Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University

    goffkein.pro/Shutterstock

    Paranormal beliefs create a sense of control, predictability and comfort in uncertain times, according to academic studies. That doesn’t explain why some people find them more appealing than others, though recent studies are starting to offer explanations about why some people feel so drawn to the paranormal.

    Paranormal beliefs are convictions in notions beyond what mainstream science can explain, like ghosts or psychic abilities. Surveys show that a large number of people in the US and UK – between about one-third and 50% – hold these beliefs.

    Our recent study found that people who feel powerless or uncertain are more likely to believe in the supernatural. This is probably because of the way our brains process uncertainty. When faced with events we cannot control, our minds look for patterns and explanations.

    Paranormal beliefs create structured stories that make random events seem intentional. For example, astrology connects planetary movements to personal experiences, giving believers a way to understand their lives. People put their faith in conspiracy theories for similar reasons.

    One major reason people turn to paranormal beliefs is to deal with anxiety about life. Realising that life is unpredictable and has an end can be unsettling. Supernatural beliefs provide comfort by suggesting that a higher power controls human destiny.

    This perception gives life a sense of purpose and meaning. Stories about ghosts and communication with the dead help people feel connected to lost loved ones. In this way, supernatural thinking helps people cope with fears about the unknown.

    Believing in the paranormal can provide comfort for some, but it can be unhelpful in some situations. For instance, a deep belief in supernatural forces might cause someone to blame their problems on supernatural forces instead of looking for practical ways to address them. Indeed, our recent research identified that belief in external supernatural forces that exert control, such as gods or fate, is associated with distress. This type of belief reflects a lack of personal control.

    Conversely, our recent study showed that belief in paranormal phenomena centred on personal spirituality, such as astrology or manifesting, is not associated with stress. This seems to be because these kinds of belief emphasise personal control and meaning.

    Paranormal beliefs are also influenced by mental shortcuts that shape perception of the world. Pattern recognition is a good example, where people see connections in random events. This explains why people see faces in clouds or someone thinks a series of bad events means they are cursed.

    Paranormal beliefs can help people cope with uncertainty.
    Natalie magic/Shutterstock

    Another common bias is when people believe they can influence things that are beyond their control. Often referred to as the illusion of control, a 2024 study showed that this bias also applies to health, like believing in false medical treatments or cures. The researchers found that illusory health beliefs correlated positively with a belief in pseudoscience and negatively with scepticism.

    Cultural and social influences

    Culture and society can strengthen paranormal beliefs. The way the media depicts supernatural events affects how people see them. Horror films and TV shows frequently portray supernatural beings interacting with the real world. Social media further amplifies these ideas, with people sharing personal stories, videos and experiences online. These shared posts can reinforce beliefs in the paranormal.

    When people are surrounded by others who believe in the supernatural, they are more likely to see these ideas as true. Social norms shape these beliefs by setting expectations about what is considered acceptable or real within a culture. If a society widely accepts paranormal ideas, people are more likely to adopt and reinforce them.

    Understanding the role of paranormal beliefs can help researchers create a balanced view of the people who subscribe to them. Instead of dismissing such beliefs, it is important to recognise their emotional and personal significance. Particularly, how beliefs shape people’s perspectives and coping mechanisms. While they may not align with logic or evidence, the comfort they afford is deeply meaningful to those who hold them. A 2024 study found that paranormal beliefs were not necessarily associated with negative wellbeing and were connected to a sense of meaning in life.

    Research has shown that teaching critical thinking and scientific literacy can help people tell the difference between helpful spiritual practices and harmful misunderstandings. Encouraging scepticism and rational thinking allows people to engage with the world in a way that balances hope with reason.

    Paranormal beliefs persist because they meet deep psychological needs. Understanding why people believe in the supernatural can lead to more compassionate discussions and help them find better ways to handle uncertainty. Whether or not someone believes in ghosts, the need for stability and comfort is something all humans share.

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

    – ref. How paranormal beliefs help people cope in uncertain times – https://theconversation.com/how-paranormal-beliefs-help-people-cope-in-uncertain-times-251648

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE and Avito launch master’s degree program in machine learning in digital product

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Faculty of Computer Science HSE, together with the Russian IT company Avito, announces the launch of a new Master’s program in Machine Learning (ML) in Digital Product. The program is aimed at training specialists who will be able to apply advanced machine learning technologies to solve real business problems and create products used by millions of users. A total of 35 people will be able to undergo training in the first wave, the training of 30 of them will be fully financed by Avito.

    The program is suitable for graduates of a bachelor’s degree in mathematical, technical or economic specialties who want to deepen their knowledge in the field of machine learning. Avito expects that future students can program in Python and write understandable code for analysts and engineers, know standard algorithms and data structures, as well as the basics of ML and SQL, have basic knowledge in the field of linear algebra, probability theory, mathematical statistics and mathematical analysis.

    The full-time master’s program lasts two years and includes both mandatory and optional courses, allowing students to create an individual educational track. Mandatory subjects include probability theory, mathematical statistics, recommender systems, deep learning, MLOps, Python algorithms, backend development, and GPU computing. Elective courses include the basics of micro- and macroeconomics, mechanism design, auction theory, LLM (Large Language Models), deep learning in audio and video processing, dynamic pricing, etc.

    Students will be able to get a paid internship in one of Avito’s DS teams already during their studies — the company will launch several waves of selection during the training period. During the internship, students will be able to use the practical knowledge they have gained when writing term papers and theses under the guidance of a mentor from the team.

    The development of the master’s program was carried out jointly with experts from the HSE Faculty of Computer Science and data scientists from Avito. The teachers are leading specialists in the field of machine learning, such as Anna Markova, Ruslan Gilyazev, Anastasia Rysmyatova, Mikhail Kamenshchikov and Alexander Ledovsky, who have both teaching experience and experience working on large Avito projects, including the development of platforms for predicting ad parameters, monetization and algorithms for ranking paid ads.

    To be admitted, you must pass a portfolio competition and an interview with Avito experts. The selection starts on June 20 and will last until the end of August.

    “Our Master’s program is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of machine learning and learn how to solve real business problems. Students will master the full cycle of working with ML – from design to implementation, solving cases based on Avito data. This is a unique chance to gain practical experience in a large IT company. We strive to make education accessible to talented students, so Avito fully covers the cost of tuition for 30 program participants. Classes are held in the evenings and on Saturdays, which allows students not only to study, but also to immediately apply knowledge in practice, building a career in parallel with their studies,” shared Ilya Nikitin, academic director of the educational program “Machine Learning in a Digital Product”, a lecturer at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Higher School of Economics.

    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: AI Improving USGS Science and Efficiency

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) was released in late 2024 as a reinvention of the prior NLCD, a longstanding and definitive national U.S. land cover resource valued by private industry, government agencies and university researchers. 

    New AI innovations made the Annual NLCD improvements possible, including providing a look at yearly land changes dating back to 1985. The previous NLCD was only able to offer new land cover data every two to three years and dated back only to 2001.

    The primary source for Annual NLCD’s 16 land cover labels—for fields, forests, city development and more—is Landsat satellite imagery. Every satellite pixel, or 30-meter-by-30-meter plot, needed to be processed from 1985 to 2023 across the lower 48 states, which added up to 295 trillion pixels. With a goal of completing the entire release in two years, the development of more advanced methods was essential.

    AI was used for both the classification, or labeling, of land cover types and also the detection of changes in land cover from year to year. That involved a lot of training data—helping the algorithms learn from labeled satellite data and from mistakes to predict labels and changes.

    Rylie Fleckenstein, the Research and Development technical lead for Annual NLCD, discussed the deeper levels of machine learning used for Annual NLCD in the podcast episodes. Annual NLCD aimed for a faster, more automated approach that would not compromise on quality or consistency, versus slower methods in the past that relied more on human interpretation of imagery.

    Deep learning is a type of machine learning that performs complex tasks and learns from the results, essentially training itself. Flecksenstein compared it to LEGOS. Rather than using the instructions to build a certain object in a certain way, he said deep learning is like “a box of LEGOS that you can construct in any way that you can think of that actually can better fit to your problem.”

    Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch at EROS, summarized how AI benefited not only Annual NLCD production and data users but also taxpayers. “A completely new methodology was stood up, all AI-based, linking three different AI models,” Sohl said. “We’re faster, we’re more efficient. We’ve saved the government and the taxpayers money, and we’re creating a superior product. It’s a win all the way around.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fat in common cooking oils is linked to aggressive breast cancer – but here’s why you shouldn’t panic

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

    BearFotos/Shutterstock

    There’s now lots of evidence which shows that our own diets and the foods we eat can influence the outcome if we are unlucky enough to suffer from cancer.

    Scientists are especially interested in how this happens, in particular the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind these associations. This would better inform nutritional recommendations and help us understand how cancer forms so we can prevent it.

    Now, a study has identified a molecular link between linoleic acid, a common fat contained in cooking oils, and aggressive breast cancer, renewing the discussion about dietary choices and cancer risk. The findings, while significant, require careful interpretation to avoid unnecessary alarm and give useful guidance to the public.

    Common fatty acid

    Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid which is found in abundant quantities in soybean, sunflower and corn oils. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York showed it can directly activate a growth pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells – a type of breast cancer especially known for its aggressiveness and limited treatment options.

    Triple negative breast cancer makes up about 15% of all breast cancer cases, but because breast cancer is so common, this affects a lot of people. The researchers found that linoleic acid binds to a protein called FABP5 (fatty acid-binding protein 5), which is at high levels in these cancer cells.

    This binding triggers the mTORC1 pathway – a critical regulator of cell growth and metabolism – fuelling tumour progression in preclinical research, including animal studies. My current research focuses on this pathway in a variety of normal and cancer cells.

    In the new study, mice fed a high linoleic-acid diet developed larger tumours, suggesting dietary intake may exacerbate this cancer’s growth. There was a link to people too: elevated FABP5 and linoleic acid levels were detected in blood samples from triple-negative breast cancer patients, strengthening the biological plausibility of this link. Dr John Blenis, the senior author of the paper, said:

    This discovery helps clarify the relationship between dietary fats and cancer, and sheds light on how to define which patients might benefit the most from specific nutritional recommendations in a personalised manner.

    It’s also possible that the implications extend beyond triple negative breast cancer to other tumours such as prostate cancer.

    Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid so it must be obtained from food. It plays a role in skin health, cell membrane structure and inflammation regulation. However, modern diets, which are rich in processed foods, ultraprocesed foods and seed oils, often provide excessive omega-6 fats, including linoleic acid, while lacking omega-3s, which are found in fish, flaxseeds and walnuts.

    This imbalance could promote chronic inflammation, which is a well known contributor to cancer and other diseases.

    The study therefore suggests that linoleic acid may directly drive cancer growth in specific contexts. This challenges earlier observational studies that found no clear association between dietary linoleic acid and overall breast cancer risk. For example, a 2023 meta-analysis of 14 studies in over 350,000 women concluded that linoleic acid intake had no significant effect on breast cancer risk in the general population.

    The discrepancy highlights the importance of researchers looking specifically at cancer subtypes and also individual factors, such as FABP5 levels in cancers themselves. Another study showed that linoleic acid was protective against breast cancer, which demonstrates why it’s important to consider everything in context.

    Don’t panic

    Media headlines can often oversimplify complex research. While this new study highlights a plausible mechanism linking linoleic acid to cancer growth, it does not prove that cooking oils cause breast cancer – far from it. Other factors, such as genetics, overall diet and environmental exposures, play significant roles.

    The findings do not warrant blanket avoidance of seed oils but suggest moderation and selectivity, especially for high-risk individuals. Many oils such as olive oil contain less linoleic acid and higher monounsaturated or saturated fats, which are more stable at high heat.

    Do also consider eating more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

    A recent study that comprehensively analysed eating habits over 30 years showed that diets that are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and low-fat dairy products were linked to healthy ageing. In that study, the Harvard team followed more than 100,000 people between 1986 and 2016. Fewer than 10% of respondents achieved healthy ageing, defined by a lack of 11 major chronic diseases and no impairment in cognitive, physical or mental function by the age of 70.

    Organisations like the World Cancer Research Fund emphasise that moderate use of vegetable oils is safe and that obesity, not specific fats, is the primary dietary driver of cancer risk.

    This study, then, underscores the importance of contextualising dietary fats in cancer research. While linoleic acid’s role in triple-negative breast cancer is a critical discovery, it’s one piece of a vast puzzle. A balanced, wholefood diet remains an important cornerstone of cancer prevention, and a strategy everyone can adopt.

    Justin Stebbing 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. Fat in common cooking oils is linked to aggressive breast cancer – but here’s why you shouldn’t panic – https://theconversation.com/fat-in-common-cooking-oils-is-linked-to-aggressive-breast-cancer-but-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic-254255

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rich Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biogeography and Biodiversity, University of Oxford

    One of the biotech company’s ‘dire wolves’. Colossal

    With wildlife populations globally 73% smaller on average than in 1970 and large mammals missing from much of the world, surely there’s never been a better time to “de-extinct” species? US biotech company Colossal Biosciences Inc claimed to do just that recently by resurrecting the dire wolf from Game of Thrones (a species that also lived in our world, several thousand years ago).

    The potential seems huge. A species in trouble? Get a high-quality genome and you’ve made it a save game point, ready to replay when the environment improves. Didn’t get there in time? Never mind – you can use frozen remains in the permafrost, or shotgun-blasted specimens in a museum collection. And pretty soon, even if you don’t have those, a dose of generative AI and you can probably infer some of that genome anyway. A little genetic engineering and you have a species back from the dead, ready to go.

    What’s the problem? Well, pretty much everything. These aren’t species returned from extinction. They aren’t going to be very useful, and in fact may well not survive at all. Most worrying of all, like the Freys and Boltons hidden in the hall before the Red Wedding, it’s the ethos of de-extinction hidden in these “dire wolf” puppies that will likely do the most damage to biodiversity if it establishes itself.

    Extinction has not been reversed

    The dire wolf was a very large carnivore that lived in the Americas about 10,000 years ago. Anatomically, it resembled a big, muscular, extra-toothy grey wolf: the species alive today that everyone thinks of when they say “wolf”.

    The two pups revealed by Colossal Biosciences are not dire wolves. They are grey wolves, with 14 genes modified to produce an animal that resembles what we think a dire wolf looked like. Actually, only one of the 14 was a gene directly from a dire wolf specimen – the others were gene variants from existing grey wolf populations chosen to give physical features that made the engineered wolves bigger and whiter.

    Over time, gene editing technology could increase the possible number of genes that can be engineered into a host species, and increase the complexity of the traits being inserted. But it’s not species being revived, it’s a few of their characteristics being borrowed by a species from today. It’s like claiming to have brought Napoleon back from the dead by asking a short French man to wear his hat.

    The argument for this kind of genetic engineering revolves around the notion that the new hybrids might be useful for environmental restoration. As a top predator, the dire wolf could in theory bring the same revolutionary changes to ecosystems that reintroducing grey wolves to Yellowstone national park in the US famously caused in the 1990s. In other words, a more complete ecosystem, with wolves checking the voracious appetite of deer such that more complex and biodiverse habitats rebound.

    However, in ecosystems where the dire wolf would reign supreme the grey wolf can very clearly fill the same role (just as it did in Yellowstone) without any of the unnecessary technology – if only people stopped trying to shoot them and exempt them from endangered species legislation.

    There’s also the problem that captive breeding programmes seeking to release endangered species into the wild today regularly butt against: that the new animals have little or no idea what to do or how to live in their new habitat.

    Operation Migration, dramatised in the 1996 film Fly Away Home, saw a dedicated team of pilots teach endangered migratory birds how to traverse North America by having them chase microlight aircraft for thousands of miles. This is just one example of the intensive training necessary, and which is never guaranteed to be successful. It’s obviously more difficult to train apex predators by example – I will not be volunteering for the “intro to pack hunting” session.

    No quick fixes

    The word “de-extinction” is not just itself untrue, but it seeks to diminish the inconvenient truth of the biodiversity crisis: we know what causes extinction, and it’s us.

    Food systems have to destroy less habitat and use much less protein from animals, wild and farmed. Energy systems have to burn less carbon, so that there are fewer deaths among species (including ours) trying to adapt to higher temperatures and the changes they bring. To do both these things, our landscapes have to leave more space for nature and much of what remains must be used more efficiently to provide food, fuel and living space.

    There are definite signs that we can make good on these promises: conservation does work, for humans and for other species.

    But these changes require us to recognise that certain economic and political philosophies are no longer tenable. They require sacrifice by everyone and a willingness by rich people and countries to pay with money, trade policy, intellectual property rights and energy supply, so that many of the poorest people and countries can flourish while avoiding the environmental damage that those rich countries caused over their own histories.

    What motivates people to cope with these changes is a desire for justice, a need to nurture, a drive to make things better and a recognition that while habitats can sometimes be restored, species extinctions are irreversible dead-ends which can only be avoided. That recognition is under threat.

    The Trump administration is trying to defang the US Endangered Species Act. In the UK, a wholesale revision of legislation to prevent biodiversity loss has begun with the targeting of the habitat regulations, in preemptive defence of the government’s need to “build, build, build” in a desperate search for more economic growth. How useful would it be if the risk of extinction could be averted with a simple “don’t worry, we’ll pay to de-extinct it afterwards”?

    There won’t be a dire wolf, and even if there were to be one, we’d have no idea what it was for (and neither would it). We’ll all pay for the mistaken belief that extinction is a solved problem, and that the business-as-usual global economy that has caused the sixth mass extinction is no big deal, because its casualties aren’t actually dead – just temporarily inconvenienced by an extinction that is no longer forever.

    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.

    Rich Grenyer 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 ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature – https://theconversation.com/why-de-extinct-dire-wolves-are-a-trojan-horse-to-hide-humanitys-destruction-of-nature-254309

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ian Urquhart, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, University of Alberta

    “We heard you, Albertans.” With those words, Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean put coal mining in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains back on the table last December. Common sense might suggest Jean meant that Albertans are in favour of resuscitating metallurgical coal mining there, but that’s not the case.

    Instead, the public strongly opposes reviving metallurgical coal mining — also known as coking coal mining — to supply Asian steelmakers. December’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative sadly exemplifies what has become too common in politics today — using misinformation to try to win the public’s willingness to accept the unacceptable.

    In this case, the government’s treatment of expert opinion compounds its misinformation. It’s blind to expert advice from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Australian government questioning the rosiness of metallurgical coal’s future.

    Bringing coal miners back to Alberta’s Rockies was extremely contentious between 2020 and 2022. Jason Kenney’s Conservatives removed the de facto exploration and exploitation restrictions in place there since the 1970s. At the same time, Benga Mining Limited proposed to resume coal mining in southwest Alberta. Together, these events ignited a public furore.

    Public opposition

    Andrew Nikiforuk, a journalist whose books and articles focus on epidemics and the energy industry, was one of the first to bring coal miner ambitions to the public’s attention. He told me the outrage was “probably the most important environmental protest I have ever witnessed in this province.”

    Benga’s Grassy Mountain project was summarily dismissed by government regulators in 2021. Eleven weeks before that decision, Alberta created the Coal Policy Committee. It consulted Albertans about the 2020 decision to invite coal miners to return to the Rockies.

    The committee gave anyone with a view on coal — positive or negative — the opportunity to contribute to its deliberations. The response was impressive. The committee received nearly 4,400 pieces of correspondence, 176 detailed written submissions and conducted 67 virtual and public meetings.

    The consultation confirmed what polling firms had already found: “A significant number of respondents are apprehensive about coal development in Alberta.”

    Albertans didn’t believe coal’s economic benefits justified its risks to landscapes and water quality. Only eight per cent of those who answered the committee’s survey question about the economic benefits of coal mining felt they were very important; 64 per cent regarded those benefits as “not important at all.”

    This unambiguous public opposition repeated what the federal-provincial review panel into Benga’s Grassy Mountain coal mine proposal revealed in 2020-2021. Ninety-eight per cent of the more than 4,400 public comments left on the review panel’s website opposed the proposal to bring coal mining back to the Crowsnest Pass.

    Second, the committee concluded that land-use planning, with public consultation, needed to take place before a decision could be made about permitting coal exploration in the Rockies.

    Premier Danielle Smith’s government hasn’t listened. It doesn’t intend to conduct the land-use planning called for by the committee.

    Jean has also said he will consult industry — and only industry — as he tries to get his new policy in place this year. He promised “targeted” engagement with coal industry stakeholders. The public and other interests will be mere spectators.

    Global coal demand is a myth

    Alberta’s coal initiative has an optimistic view of future metallurgical coal demand.

    Jean markets his proposal by saying Alberta coal is needed “given the current and anticipated future global demand for coal.” But the IAE doesn’t share that optimism. Nor do experts from the Australian government, the world’s largest exporter of metallurgical coal.

    The IEA’s annual coal report is a benchmark for understanding the medium-term global outlook for coal. Its most recent report projects metallurgical coal production will fall by 4.2 per cent from 2024 to 2027. The IEA’s 2024 World Energy Outlook predicted steelmaking coal production would fall over the next two decades as steelmakers reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    In 2050, it expects world coking coal production to drop 35.8 per cent from the 2024 level.

    Australia’s pre-eminence comes from producing 46 per cent of global metallurgical coal exports. The Australian government’s March 2025 Resources and Energy Quarterly confirms the general thrust of the IEA’s analyses. A slight increase in the amount of steel produced without metallurgical coal “will likely result in a slight fall in global metallurgical coal demand through to 2030.”



    Read more:
    Australia urgently needs to get serious about long-term climate policy – but there’s no sign of that in the election campaign

    Asian demand

    The IEA makes it clear that Australian producers don’t intend to relinquish market share willingly. Forty-seven Australian coal projects are in the pipeline, with most focused on metallurgical coal or metallurgical/thermal coal combined. Three-quarters of Australia’s metallurgical coal exports feed the Asian steel industry.

    Then there’s Mongolia. After its “recent extraordinary export growth” into China, Mongolia now supplies nearly one-half of China’s imports. The country is the world’s second largest metallurgical coal exporter. Mongolia’s high-quality coal, proximity to China and improved rail infrastructure will make its production difficult to displace.

    It’s unlikely, then, that new coal production from Alberta will gain easy access to Asian markets.

    Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative illustrates two dangerous trends in politics today — the refusal to heed both the public and experts.

    The stakes here are large. Coal mining will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on the headwaters that serve people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Smith’s Conservatives should in fact embrace common sense and the spirit of party policy from the 1970s. Prohibit coal mining in Alberta’s Rockies.

    Ian Urquhart 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. Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith – https://theconversation.com/coal-in-alberta-neither-public-outrage-nor-waning-global-demand-seem-to-matter-to-danielle-smith-252551

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Leads Bicameral Letter to USDA, HHS, EPA: MAHA Commission Stance on Crop Protection Tools Would Hurt America’s Food System

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Today, Congressmen Mark Alford (R-MO-04) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), along with Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), led a bicameral group of colleagues in sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. In the letter, the members call for the use of sound science and risk-based analysis as the MAHA Commission finalizes its work, particularly on crop protection tools and food-grade ingredients. The letter states:

    “We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.”

    “We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health,” the letter continues. “Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science.”

    In addition to Congressmen Alford and Feenstra, the letter was also signed by Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE-01), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Adrian Smith (R-NE-03), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA-05), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), James Comer (R-KY-01), Troy Downing (R-MT-02), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), Gabe Evans (R-CO-08), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Vince Fong (R-CA-20), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Tracy Mann (R-KS-01), Mark Messmer (R-IN-08), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Mike Rogers (R-AL-03), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-06), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), David Valadao (R-CA-22), and Ann Wagner (R-MO-02).

    The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

    Read the full letter here or below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, and Administrator Zeldin:

    We write to express our strong appreciation for your leadership and interest in working with each of you to ensure America has the healthiest people in the world. In recent decades, chronic illness rates have risen. This warrants our careful scrutiny and to support better health outcomes. It is essential that policies supported by sound science and risk-based analyses are used to accomplish this goal.

    We also urge you to safeguard the work of the Make America Healthy Again Commission (Commission) from activist groups promoting misguided and sometimes even malicious policies masquerading as health solutions. The influence of these groups in the Commission would result in shoddy science; a less abundant, less affordable food supply; greater reliance on foreign adversaries for our food; diminished U.S. agricultural production and manufacturing; and, ultimately, poorer health outcomes.

    President Trump recently stated environmental activists were holding the economic prosperity of our country hostage. We now have concerns that they are seeking to influence the work of the Commission to advance their agenda. For decades activist groups have tried to ban safe, well-regulated agricultural inputs by any means necessary. Without these products, yields and quality are negatively impacted by otherwise avoidable insects, fungus, weeds, and other pest pressures. This drives up food prices for American consumers and forces reliance of food imports.

    The same groups have seized upon the Commission’s work as an opportunity to misrepresent the science on common food and feed categories or ingredients, such as plant-based oils. These inputs are subject to a robust, risk-based regulatory system which focuses on protecting human health. Unfounded accusations harm the U.S. farmers who grow our food, upend food and feed supply chains, and significantly increase grocery food prices – all without public health benefit.

    We have concerns that environmentalists are advancing harmful health, economic, or food security policies under the guise of human health. Despite insinuations to the contrary, regular testing by FDA and USDA finds that more than 99% of all pesticide residues meet extremely conservative limits established by EPA according to the best available science.

    We applaud the Commission’s desire to improve the health and well-being of Americans. We implore you to ensure policy decisions are grounded in sound science and risk-based analyses. With unity, we can protect American agricultural producers from environmental activists’ attacks on proven-safe inputs critical to their profitability and long-term viability while promoting positive health outcomes.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –