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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI USA: Plastics Recycling With Enzymes Takes a Leap Forward

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Key Process Improvements Save Energy and Cut Costs for Recycling Polyester With Enzymes

    NREL and collaborators made key improvements at each stage of an enzymatic recycling process—from the breakdown of plastics to the efficient recovery of building blocks for high-value materials—which resulted in an economically viable process for industry. Pictured from NREL (back row left to right): Manar Alherech, John E. McGeehan, Stephen H. Dempsey, Gregg T. Beckham; (front row left to right): Kelsey J. Ramirez, Natasha P. Murphy, Jason S. DesVeaux, Christine A. Singer, Hannah M. Alt, Elizabeth L. Bell. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL

    A successful collaboration involving a trio of research institutions has yielded a road map toward an economically viable process for using enzymes to recycle plastics.

    The researchers, from NREL, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the University of Portsmouth in England, previously partnered on the biological engineering of improved PETase enzymes that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET). With its low manufacturing cost and excellent material properties, PET is used extensively in single-use packaging, soda bottles, and textiles.

    The new study combines the previous fundamental research with advanced chemical engineering, process development, and techno-economic analysis to lay the blueprints for enzyme-based PET recycling at industrial scale.

    While current methods exist for recycling PET, they are often incompatible with typical low-quality plastic waste. A potential solution lies with enzymes, which can selectively break down PET, even from contaminated and colored plastic waste streams. The researchers’ new design focuses on improvements at each stage of the process, from plastic deconstruction with enzymes, to efficient recovery of the resulting building blocks, or monomers. These monomers can be used to make new plastic or upcycled to generate higher value materials, saving energy and resources.

    The key to making such a process viable is to reduce the energy and cost requirements, which in turn yields a cheaper product. The team has achieved this by innovations that change the reaction conditions and separations technologies to reduce expensive acid and base additions by more than 99%, reduce annual running costs by 74%, and reduce energy use by 65%.

    “Despite the advantages of enzymatic recycling for complex plastic waste streams, the field has encountered multiple challenges for realistic implementation,” said Gregg Beckham, a senior research fellow at NREL and colead of the study. “Here we have taken a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates multiple innovations to realize an economically viable and scalable process.”

    The modeled cost of the resulting enzyme-recycled PET are now below those of U.S. domestic virgin PET ($1.51/kg vs. $1.87/kg), making this an attractive option for industry investment and scale-up.

    According to a 2022 NREL study, 86% of plastics were landfilled in the United States in 2019—materials with enough embodied energy to supply 5% of the power needs of the U.S. transportation sector. With global plastic production anticipated to increase between two and four times current levels by 2050, recovering and valorizing more postconsumer plastics is an opportunity to recapture that energy for domestic materials manufacturing.

    “We see a significant opportunity to design, test, and optimize new recycling technologies to efficiently valorize postconsumer plastics into feedstock for new materials,” said Natasha Murphy, a biochemist at NREL and co-first author of the new paper.

    The paper, “Process innovations to enable viable enzymatic poly(ethylene terephthalate) recycling,” appears in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering. Other co-authors from NREL are Stephen Dempsey, Jason DesVeaux, Taylor Uekert, Swarnalatha Mailaram, Manar Alherech, Hannah Alt, Kelsey Ramirez, Brenna Norton-Baker, Elizabeth Bell, Christine Singer, and John McGeehan.

    McGeehan, who recently joined NREL from the University of Portsmouth, said, “I am delighted to be part of a team that is dedicated to translate fundamental science toward real-world application and look forward to working closely between NREL and our industry partners to accelerate the design and construction of the first U.S. enzymatic plastic recycling plant.”

    Research funds came from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and Bioenergy Technologies Office. This work was performed as part of the Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLETM) consortium.

    Explore NREL bioenergy and bioeconomy research, including recyclable-by-design materials research.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Firearms Possession Lands Lawton Man in Federal Prison for Seven Years Following Domestic Violence Conviction

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    OKLAHOMA CITY – RAYMOND IVAN MUNOZ, 22, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after conviction of a previous misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On September 4, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against Munoz, charging him with being a drug user in possession of a firearm and, on a separate occasion, possession of firearms by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. According to public record, on February 14, 2023, officers with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department encountered Munoz unconscious under the influence of drugs in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with an AK-47 loaded with an extended magazine resting between his legs. Later, on May 10, 2024, Lawton Police Department investigators observed one of Munoz’s social media posts in which he displayed a firearm while driving in a vehicle. Later that evening, officers observed Munoz, whom they knew to have a suspended license and active warrants, driving that vehicle in Lawton. When they attempted a traffic stop, Munoz initiated a pursuit in which his speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour, at times on the wrong side of the road and with his headlights off. He eventually reached his residence where he hid inside for approximately two hours before being arrested. Upon execution of a search warrant at the residence, detectives located two firearms hidden in a bathroom.

    Public record further reflects that Munoz was convicted of domestic assault and battery in Comanche County District Court case number CM-2020-810.

    On February 7, 2025, Munoz pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment and admitted that he possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

    At the sentencing hearing on June 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Munoz to serve 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court specifically noted the threat that Munoz poses to society and the necessity of a substantial sentence to protect the public.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department, and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Twelve Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 27, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced twelve appointments to various boards and commissions.

    Casey Burton, Ph.D., of St. James, was appointed to the State Board of Health and Senior Services.

    Mr. Burton is the executive director of research and governmental affairs at Phelps Health in Rolla, Missouri. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor of chemistry at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) where he develops and leads sponsored research involving noninvasive disease detection and characterization. Burton also serves on the boards of the Ozark Biomedical Initiative, Missouri Ozarks Community Action, Inc., Phelps County Community Resource Center, and more. Burton earned his doctorate in analytical chemistry and bachelor’s in chemistry from Missouri S&T.

    James Carter Jr., of St. Charles, was appointed to the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

    Mr. Carter currently serves as an Advanced American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter and is certified and licensed by the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters in both Illinois and Missouri. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Carter is a member of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASL), World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and Deaf in Government (DIG). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Lincoln Christian University.

    Earl Crawford, of Excelsior Springs, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Crawford currently serves as executive director at Missouri Inclusive Housing Development Corporation. He has previous experience as a special education teacher, superintendent of a rehabilitation center, and an education consultant, among other positions. In addition to his professional experience, Crawford has served on the Marshall Parks and Recreation Board, Marshall School Board, Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees, and Midland Empire Resources of Independent Living (MERIL), as well as vice president of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Master of Special Education from the University of Central Missouri.

    Betty Davidson, Ph.D., of St. Louis, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Davidson is a retired educational professional and expert in disability studies and inclusive practices. She previously served as the director of visually or orthopedically impaired students at the Special School District of St. Louis County. She also  serves as the chair of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), the president of Inclusivity Media, the vice president of the St. Clare Hospital Auxiliary for SSM Health, and more. Dr. Davidson earned a doctorate in higher education from Saint Louis University, a master’s in special education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and her bachelor’s degree from Harris-Stowe State College. 

    Aaron Durso, of Taneyville, was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Durso currently serves as Bull Creek Village Clerk. He has previous experience as burough manager and the municipal authority manager in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, and Senior Pastor at LOVE Christian Fellowship. A disabled veteran of the United States Air Force, Durso was honorably discharged in 1993. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Newburg Theological Seminary, Master of Ministry at Chesapeake Theological Seminary, and Bachelor of Religious Education at the University of Valley Forge.

    Ronald Hack, of Sunset Hills, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Hack is a retired lawyer, formerly serving as a partner at Evans & Dixon, LLC and Gallop Johnson & Neuman, L.C. He has been an active community volunteer for more than 30 years, currently serving on the boards of the Sunset Hills Conservation Foundation and the Southwest Area Chamber of Commerce. Hack earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College.

    Katie Jones, of St. Peters, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Jones is the chief program officer for Boone Center Inc. (BCI). She previously worked as supervisor for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services and a case manager for the Child Abuse and Neglect Unit for the Division of Family Services. In addition to her professional career, Jones is also a member of the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services, Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers, and the Legislative Committee of St. Charles Coalition. Jones earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Sociology from Lindenwood University.

    Jennifer Meyer, of O’Fallon, was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Meyer currently serves as principal at J. Meyer Strategies. She has previous experience as director of field operations for Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer and district field director for Senator Roy Blunt. In addition to her professional experience, Ms. Meyer serves as an executive board member for both the Freedom 13 and the North County Police Business Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

    Susan Orton, of St. Louis, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Orton currently serves as a realtor and sales associate with Coldwell Banker Realty – Gundaker. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is a member of the St. Louis Realtors Association, Member Inclusion Advisory Committee, and Brain Injury Association of Missouri. Orton is a graduate of Towson High School.

    Paul Ogier, of Chesterfield, was appointed to the Health and Educational Facilities Authority of the State of Missouri.

    Mr. Ogier is a retired certified public accountant (CPA), providing limited consulting services to not-for-profits in the senior housing industry. He also serves as the chief financial officer for the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in a part-time capacity. Ogier is an active member of his community, previously serving on the board of the Leading Age Missouri, Missouri Health Care Association, and the Treasurer of the Nursing Facilities Agent Corporation. Ogier earned his bachelor’s degree from the Missouri State University.

    Jill Wedemeier, of Leopold, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.

    Ms. Wedemeier is a judicial assistant and law clerk for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. She previously served as the Cape Girardeau assistant prosecuting attorney. She is an active member of the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence board, and the Leopold R-III School District Foundation. Wedemeier earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University.

    Claire West, of Jefferson City, was reappointed to the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) Board of Trustees.

    Prior to her retirement, Ms. West owned and operated Claire West Consulting LLC, a retirement consulting firm. She has previous experience as executive director of the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement. Additionally, West served on the board of the Missouri Association of Public Employee Retirement Plans from 2000 to 2007. She holds an associate’s degree in business from Columbia College.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Appointment to 18th Judicial Circuit

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 27, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced a judicial appointment to the 18th Judicial Circuit.

    Sean Pilliard, of Sedalia, was appointed as the Associate Circuit Judge for Pettis County in the 18th Judicial Circuit.

    Mr. Pilliard is a seasoned attorney specializing in a wide range of legal areas including bankruptcy, criminal defense, and family law, based in the Law Offices of Sean P. Pilliard. Pilliard is a member of the Pettis County Bar Association, Sedalia and Pettis County Economic Development, and the Sedalia Park Band board. He also serves as a volunteer for several area youth activities. Pilliard earned his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri. He will fill the vacancy left by Judge R. Paul Beard II.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE and JSC Nanotronika launch strategic partnership in electronic engineering

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Photo: JSC “MNTs MIET”

    At the industry conference “Electronic Engineering – 2025” held in early June MIEM HSE University and JSC Nanotronika (part of the Element Group of Companies) signed a strategic partnership agreement. The conference was held on the campus of SberUniversity and brought together more than 600 participants from 200 organizations, including leading enterprises, research centers, and universities. The event was supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus.

    The conference was actively attended by HSE Vice-Rector and MIEM Director Dmitry Kovalenko, Institute Advisor and Lecturer in the Department of Electronic Engineering Vladimir Vetrov, HSE Full Professor and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Petrosyants and MIEM Head of the Department of Electronic Engineering Boris Lvov.

    Dmitry Kovalenko and Konstantin Petrosyants spoke at the conference. The report by the MIEM Director touched upon the problems of training and developing the industry’s human resources potential in the context of the country’s course to strengthen technological sovereignty. Dmitry Kovalenko presented a detailed picture of the institute’s educational technologies aimed at solving modern problems in the field of electronic engineering, placing special emphasis on the mechanisms of interaction with technological partners from the industry implemented by the institute: large companies, leading research and financial organizations. The report was presented as part of the round table “Human Resources for Electronic Engineering”. Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Petrosyants presented a report on the testing and implementation of a subsystem for determining the parameters of SPICE models of electronic components for industrial circuit CAD systems.

    The main event of the conference for MIEM was the conclusion of an agreement with JSC Nanotronika, one of the young and most promising companies in the field of microelectronics and equipment, part of the Element Group. The agreement opens up new horizons for cooperation. The document provides for comprehensive interaction affecting educational, scientific and design areas of activity.

    Among the priorities of the joint work is the organization of educational events with the participation of specialists and managers of the company “Nanotronika”. Representatives of the company will regularly give lectures to students, conduct practical classes and master classes, providing students with knowledge and skills relevant to the labor market.

    An important element of the partnership will be project and research activities. The Nanotronika company will form a pool of projects, participation in which will allow MIEM students to gain real experience in solving modern engineering and technological problems. It is also envisaged to conduct joint scientific research and experimental design work (R&D), organize conferences, seminars and round tables with the participation of both parties.

    The agreement pays special attention to the organization of industrial and pre-graduation practice. Students will be able to get acquainted with the high-tech production of the Nanotronika company, which will allow them to improve their professional competence and successfully adapt to industry enterprises after completing their studies. The company, for its part, will regularly inform MIEM about vacancies and employment opportunities for graduates who have proven themselves during practice and training.

    In addition, the parties agreed to jointly prepare and publish scientific articles, reports and teaching aids reflecting the results of joint projects. One of the most important steps in implementing the agreement will be the creation of a joint workshop in the field of electronic engineering. This workshop will be equipped with modern tools and technologies and will become a practical platform where students and specialists of the company will be able to jointly develop and test innovative technologies.

    “The development of electronic engineering today is of strategic importance for ensuring the technological sovereignty of the country,” says Dmitry Kovalenko. “In the context of global restrictions and growing demands on domestic microelectronics, the need to create our own infrastructure is growing – from design to production. The issue of personnel is especially acute: the industry requires highly qualified engineers capable of developing, implementing and servicing the most complex technological systems. This is why partnerships between leading universities and industrial companies are becoming not just desirable, but vital for the formation of a sustainable innovation ecosystem.”

    “JSC Nanotronika specializes in the development and production of special technological equipment for microelectronics,” says Yulia Sukhoroslova, CEO of JSC Nanotronika. “It is impossible to provide Russian electronic components manufacturers with domestic high-tech installations without qualified personnel. Therefore, it is especially important for us to develop cooperation with universities and form teams of specialists with the necessary competencies. One of the most effective ways to train personnel is to involve students in solving real scientific and industrial problems. Our company, as an industrial partner, provides future specialists with the opportunity to participate in advanced projects and gain unique experience in developing the most modern equipment.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General, at Financing for Development Conference’s Civil Society Forum, Urges Participants to Keep Pushing for Change, Demand Governments Live Up to Their Promises

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Civil Society Forum at the fourth Financing for Development Conference, in Sevilla, Spain, today: 

    The fourth Financing for Development Conference is about fixing how the world invests in sustainable development.

    At a time of rising conflict, a burning planet and growing division, it is about showing how international cooperation can and must deliver for people.

    Thank you for your voice and relentless activism.  You are the conscience of this process — and your calls for justice for the most vulnerable are being heard.  To mobilize the funding to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  To ease the crushing debt burden on developing countries.  And to reform the global financial architecture for good.

    You know change is possible.  I urge you to keep pushing.  Keep demanding that Governments live up to their promises.  The leadership of civil society can inspire change for all of society. I am proud to stand with you in this fight for justice.  Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Convert XRP To Fiat and Instantly Send To Any Bank Account In The World With Remittix

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fresh XRP news shows the token now has a 95% chance of ETF approval in 2025, up from 75% just weeks ago. Bloomberg analysts say recent talks with the SEC have been “very positive,” which marks a big shift in how digital assets are viewed.

    But while XRP waits, Remittix is already delivering. This rising PayFi project lets users convert XRP and other cryptos to fiat and send them instantly to any bank account worldwide. Its presale has raised over $15.8M, and with nearly 20,000 investors on board, many see it as XRP’s natural next step.

    This might just be the project that picks up where XRP left off and runs with it.

    Remittix Makes Crypto Payments as Easy as Sending a Text

    Sending money with crypto shouldn’t feel like rocket science, and with Remittix, it doesn’t. This platform lets you convert XRP (and other crypto) to fiat and send it straight to any bank account in the world, fast. No banks. No waiting days. No mystery fees.

    Everything’s instant, transparent, and works like it should. Remittix cuts out the middlemen, keeps costs super low, and even helps people in places where traditional banking is a mess. Whether you’re paying someone abroad, sending money home, or running a remote team, it just works.

    Source: Remittix

    It even supports stablecoins to dodge the usual crypto swings, and every transaction is recorded on the blockchain, so nothing gets lost or reversed. In short, Remittix makes sending money feel as easy as texting your friends, just way more useful.

    And yeah, it’s about time someone got this right.

    Over $15.8M Raised: Why Investors Are Calling It “XRP 2.0”

    While XRP news about a possible ETF has sparked fresh interest in Ripple, some investors are already looking ahead, and they’re calling Remittix the real evolution.

    The numbers don’t lie: Remittix has raised over $15.8 million in its presale and sold more than 546 million $RTX tokens. The price has already climbed from $0.0734 to $0.0781, with each round moving it higher. People who got in early? They’re already seeing green.

    Source: Remittix

    But this isn’t just about price. Investors are backing Remittix because it actually solves a problem, making international payments faster, cheaper, and way more accessible. No hype. No gimmicks. Just a project built on real-world utility.

    With nearly 20,000 investors on board, the momentum is clear. And with Remittix picking up where XRP started, but with fewer roadblocks, it’s easy to see why people are calling it “XRP 2.0.”

    Real Use Case, Real Tech: How Remittix Is Built for Mass Adoption

    Remittix is built to solve a real problem. The platform makes it easy to convert crypto into local fiat and send it straight to bank accounts, especially in regions where access to traditional banking is limited.

    Is Remittix the Next XRP?! New 10X Potential Crypto?!

    The $RTX token isn’t just for trading, either. It powers the ecosystem by unlocking fee discounts, giving users priority access, and soon, governance rights.

    It’s designed for everyday use, not speculation. That’s why more people are paying attention, because Remittix is made to last, not just moon.

    Conclusion

    With XRP ETF approval looking more likely than ever, crypto payments are entering a new era. But while XRP waits, Remittix is already delivering. Fast transfers, real utility, and over $15.8M raised, it’s clear investors see the future here. Don’t miss your chance to get in early.

    Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their presale here:

    Website: https://remittix.io/

    Socials: https://linktr.ee/remittix

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EDB holds first “Digital Education Week 2025” kick-off ceremony with EdCity to enlighten future talents with innovative education (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    EDB holds first “Digital Education Week 2025” kick-off ceremony with EdCity to enlighten future talents with innovative education  
    The officiating guests of the launching ceremony include Dr Choi, the First-level Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Liu Maozhou, the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, Deputy Secretary for Education, Dr Gloria Chan, Mr Armstrong Lee Hon-cheung, the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen, the Founder and Honorary President and the chairwoman of the Steering Committee of the Smart City Consortium, the Hon Elizabeth Quat and the Chairman of the QEF Steering Committee, Mr Dieter Yih Lai-tak, witnessing an important milestone of digital education development in Hong Kong together.

    To dovetail with the national development of digital education and to nurture talents for the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, the Chief Executive announced the formation of the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education in the 2024 Policy Address. The Committee has identified four key focuses and strategic directions, namely to enhance students’ digital literacy and skills, to strengthen professional training in digital education for teachers, to optimise digital education ancillary infrastructure, as well as to strengthen ties between local, Mainland and international innovation and technology institutions, tertiary institutions, and relevant sectors to enhance synergy and promote high-quality development of digital education. The EDB has rolled out a series of activities, including organising multiple engagement sessions with stakeholders to gauge views on the development of digital education in the schools in Hong Kong. The Committee members also conducted school visits to understand of the latest progress of the implementation of digital education in schools. 
     
    Speaking at the kick-off ceremony of the Digital Education Week, Dr Choi said, “the first Digital Education Week features a wide range of enriching programmes, including the annual flagship event for the education sector, Learning & Teaching Expo 2025, as well as the International Summit on the Use of AI in Learning and Teaching Languages and Other Subjects and Post-Summit Workshop Series. These functions enable teachers to stay abreast of the latest developments in I&T and digital education, fostering professional exchanges and enhancing the effectiveness of learning and teaching. As a close partner of the EDB, the EdCity is stepping up its full efforts to promote digital education and continues to leverage on its advantages to promote the application and education of AI and computational thinking, and enhancing students’ digital literacy and skills.” Dr Choi looked forward to working in collaboration with the community to promote the deep integration of I&T and nurture more I&T talent, thereby contributing to the building of a leading country in education and a strong nation in science and technology.
     
    The Learning & Teaching Expo 2025 will bring together global educational technology resources, set up nearly 600 booths, and host more than 270 keynote speeches, seminars and public demonstration classes to fully showcase the latest teaching solutions and technology trends. While the International Summit on AIinLT will gather education experts from home and abroad to discuss the practical application of AI in various disciplines through 100 paper presentations, teaching demonstrations and 11 in-depth workshops, helping teachers and students enhance their AI literacy.
     
    Mr Lee said, “The Digital Education Week is not just an event, it is an important milestone in shaping the future of education in Hong Kong. As a wholly owned government organisation, the EdCity has been committed to promoting information technology education in Hong Kong, providing an interactive learning platform for teachers, students and parents, and contributing diversified resources and support to enhance teaching effectiveness, promote holistic development and lifelong learning. This year’s expo has newly added a Mainland China Zone, an International Pavilion and an I&T Exchange Circle. The EdCity hopes to further expand the AI education ecosystem to Mainland China and overseas, presenting the most novel and effective innovative education solutions and products from around the world to the Hong Kong education sector, and enhancing the quality of learning and teaching.”
     
    At the event, the EDB announced that the first batch of three deliverables in the e-Learning Ancillary Facilities Programme, which was funded by a provision of $500 million from the QEF, are officially rolled out today. The deliverables of the projects will also be exhibited at the Learning & Teaching Expo 2025 for teachers and students to experience. The programme provides 22 innovative e-learning solutions for primary and secondary, kindergarten and special education students in Hong Kong, 18 of which incorporate AI technology. Three of the project leaders briefed the guests on the functions and vision of the projects.
     
    Dr Anissa Chan said, “Schools and teachers have a key role to play in guiding students to use and control new technologies in an orderly and appropriate manner, rather than being controlled by them. Therefore, while embracing innovative technologies, the education sector should also be equipped with the skills to utilise AI. The inaugural International Summit on the Use of AI in Learning and Teaching Languages and Other Subjects & Post-Summit Workshop Series, co-organised by the EDB, SCOLAR, EdCity, and the Department of English and Communication of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aims to provide a valuable platform for teachers, researchers and others in the education sector to learn from each other and to share their own insights on the use of AI in the education sector”.
     
    In addition, witnessed by Dr Choi and Mr Lee, the Executive Director of EdCity, Dr Tenny Lam, signed cooperation agreements with the Association of I.T. Leaders in Education (AiTLE), Hong Kong Qianfan Technology and the Hong Kong Association for Computer Education (HKACE) respectively to further promote the development of digital education in Hong Kong. The EDB praised the HKACE and the AiTLE for their contributions to the development of digital education over the years, and also thanked Hong Kong Qianfan Technology and the EdCity for their collaboration to launch innovative projects to support digital education, with a view to introducing innovative technologies to the academic sector and helping the digital transformation of education.
    Issued at HKT 23:27

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How startups are harnessing Azure cloud computing and advanced NVIDIA chips

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How startups are harnessing Azure cloud computing and advanced NVIDIA chips

    As industries race to adopt AI, it takes a unique catalyst to cause true disruption and change the world. In our Catalyst documentary series, we follow three disruptive startups as they unlock what is possible when cloud-native agility meets accelerated computing, leveraging Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA to drive seismic shifts in science, health, and technology.

    Microsoft and NVIDIA have over a decade-long partnership in driving AI innovations and solutions forward. Together, they are working to democratize access to cutting-edge cloud infrastructure and building a supportive ecosystem for startups, enabling them to train and deploy complex AI models faster so they can create solutions that solve global challenges. Microsoft Azure provides a scalable cloud foundation which combines with the full-stack NVIDIA innovation AI platform—including accelerated computing infrastructure, performance-optimized AI software, and domain-specific frameworks—to support innovation and create new opportunities. They enable startups and and innovative companies to use AI to develop, expand, and deliver groundbreaking solutions across industries.

    In the first season, we will follow three companies in the Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception programs at the cusp of breakthroughs powered by Azure Foundry infrastructure and accelerated by NVIDIA GPUs:

    • Pangaea Data is addressing critical global healthcare challenges and closing care caps by discovering untreated and under-treated patients across hard-to-diagnose conditions who are currently overlooked despite information in their records. Pangaea’s innovative AI platform is integrated into electronic health record (EHR), scheduling, and care coordination systems through Microsoft’s Agentic AI framework, thereby enabling clinicians to ensure guideline concordance for patients at the point of care without disrupting existing workflows. By uncovering insights buried in patient records, Pangaea is helping health systems and pharmaceutical companies transform care for better outcomes and ensuring health equity.
    • Basecamp Research is revolutionizing life sciences by creating one of the world’s largest biological databases—at 9.8 billion new biological protein sequences—to address critical global challenges in drug discovery, product R&D, and beyond. By enabling AI to comprehend the complexity and breadth of biology, Basecamp Research designs cutting-edge biological systems, setting new benchmarks in control, novelty, and efficiency. Their groundbreaking solutions are driving advancements in drug discovery and beyond, holding the potential to redefine the future of biological research.
    • Global Objects uses advanced AI and 3D scanning technologies to create photoreal digital twins of real-world locations, objects, and props. These high-fidelity assets power generative AI, virtual production, and immersive experiences across industries—from media and entertainment to enterprise and government.

    True innovation happens when startups are able harness the power of Azure Foundry infrastructure coupled with NVIDIA acceleration to spark industry breakthroughs. Watch the Catalyst series to see how today’s bold innovators are building the future, unlocking what is possible—and to provide inspiration for your startup to catalyze change.

    Learn more about Microsoft for Startups today

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Permanent Secretary at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    New Permanent Secretary at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    Emram Mian has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, replacing Sarah Munby

    The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has today (Monday, 30 June) announced the appointment of Emran Mian as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

    Emran is currently Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms at DSIT, where he is responsible for programmes to make the UK one of the best places in the world to undertake AI research and to build an AI company, covering data use and access policy, cybersecurity policy and online safety.

    He has previously held roles in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as a Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, and Director General for Stronger Places, and at the Department for Education as Director General for Strategy and International.

    Emran, replacing Sarah Munby, will lead the department at a critical time as the Government drives innovation and investment through the UK’s world-class science sector, and aims to harness new technologies to deliver growth and renewal for working people through the Plan for Change. 

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:

    Emran will be an outstanding Permanent Secretary with exceptional experience and vision. I have had the pleasure of working with him closely since I became Secretary of State and he knows this department inside out. 

    Under his leadership, DSIT will go from strength to strength in harnessing the power of science and technology to improve people’s lives across the UK, playing a central role in delivering our Plan for Change. 

    I also want to place on record my thanks to and deep appreciation for Sarah Munby, not only for her personal support to me but for her service to the country at large during her years in the civil service. She has helped to navigate several of the most complex challenges facing the government of the day under five Prime Ministers and wherever she goes next will be extremely lucky to have her.

    Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:

    I congratulate Emran Mian on his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and I thank Sarah Munby for her leadership of the department since February 2023. 

    Emran brings significant experience into this role from his time as Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms, and previous roles at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Education. 

    He is well placed to take on the opportunities of this exciting post, and lead the Government’s delivery of the blueprint for modern digital government as part of the Plan for Change.

    Emran Mian said:

    I applied for this role because I am hugely optimistic about how science, technology and AI can improve lives, government services and economic growth. At this moment there is no cap on how ambitious we should be for our country. 

    I am grateful to Sarah Munby for her leadership of DSIT since the department was created. It is a privilege to take the work forward with colleagues across the department and wider government, working closely with scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, businesses and civil society.

    The appointment follows an external recruitment competition overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 60+ Organizations Sign White House Pledge to Support America’s Youth and Invest in AI Education

    Source: US Whitehouse

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, over 60 organizations are the first signers of the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education, which promises to support the goals and mission of President Trump’s executive order Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for America’s Youth.

    The organizations “pledge to make available resources for youth and teachers through funding and grants, educational materials and curricula, technology and tools, teacher professional development programs, workforce development resources, and/or technical expertise and mentorship” over the next four years, working alongside the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education. Together, the Pledge will help make AI education accessible to K-12 students across the country, sparking curiosity in the technology and preparing the next-generation for an AI-enabled economy.

    “Fostering young people’s interest and expertise in artificial intelligence is crucial to maintaining American technological dominance. These initial pledges from American organizations will help create new educational and workforce development opportunities for our students. We invite other organizations to join the pledge as we look forward to furthering these partnerships to introduce more of America’s youth to AI,” said Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Chair of the White House Task Force on AI Education.

    “We are thrilled that so many organizations have signed the Pledge to America’s Youth. It is clear there is a lot of energy about AI and how it can be used responsibly in education. The resources and tools that have been pledged through this initiative will help our teachers and learners leverage AI in classrooms and communities across America,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

    “AI is reshaping our economy and the way we live and work, and we must ensure the next generation of American workers is equipped with the skills they need to lead in this new era,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “By uniting behind this pledge to provide critical resources for students and educators, I’m encouraged to see these organizations are committed to helping young Americans build the skills they need in AI literacy to drive innovation and become empowered leaders of tomorrow.”

    “To secure America’s future, the United States must win the AI race,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “That’s why President Trump is investing in the next generation of American innovators and providing students and teachers the tools to lead in this emerging industry. With this President’s bold leadership and the future leaders of America dialed in, America stands to dominate.”

    “The U. S. National Science Foundation is proud to support the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education. Equipping young people with the tools to understand and shape artificial intelligence is not only a matter of national competitiveness—it is an investment in a more innovative, prosperous and informed future,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF has long recognized the importance of nurturing early interest in science and technology. Through our ongoing efforts to fund cutting-edge research, support teacher development, and expand access to STEM education in every corner of the country, we are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to engage with and contribute to the future of AI. We applaud the organizations that have joined this pledge and look forward to collaborating with our partners to deliver the contributed resources to America’s youth and inspire the next generation of AI innovators, researchers, and technology leaders.”

    “President Trump is bringing America into a new Golden Age by harnessing the best tools and innovations America has to offer. At USDA, we are working to give students the opportunities and mentorship they need to continue the legacy of American ingenuity. Our efforts involve leveraging specific training and grant opportunities for students and teachers that encourage the use and development of artificial intelligence in agriculture. Under President Trump’s leadership, this task force is empowering teachers to integrate artificial intelligence into their curriculum as they prepare their students for the future,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.

    Stay tuned as the Trump Administration works with these and other organizations to announce specific new grants, programs, and technologies towards the Pledge throughout the year ahead. Visit our website for more information on joining the Pledge to America’s Youth, and stay up to date with the latest pledge signers and initiatives.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: CodeMonkey’s AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) Course Approved by the College Board

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CodeMonkey, a leading provider of gamified coding education for K-12 students, is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (CSP) course, which has officially received endorsement and approval from the College Board. This endorsement signifies that CodeMonkey’s AP CSP course meets the rigorous standards of AP curricula and provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for success in computer science and beyond.

    The AP CSP course is designed specifically for high school students and educators looking for an accessible, interactive, and standards-aligned introduction to computer science. With its roots in game-based learning, CodeMonkey brings a fresh, student-centered approach to AP CSP, integrating real-world problem solving, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking with core computing concepts such as algorithms, data, the internet, and programming.

    CodeMonkey’s AP CSP course includes everything educators need to confidently teach the subject, whether they are new to computer science or experienced in the field. The curriculum includes detailed lesson plans, interactive coding challenges, project guides, student assessments, and teacher professional development. The platform also features built-in support for preparing students for the AP exam and performance task, ensuring alignment with College Board expectations.

    Schools and districts interested in adopting CodeMonkey’s AP CSP course for the upcoming academic year can now access the full curriculum through the CodeMonkey platform. Teacher training and support services are also available to ensure successful implementation and student achievement.

    With this new offering, CodeMonkey continues to lead the way in transforming how students learn computer science—empowering the next generation of digital creators, thinkers, and innovators.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Jobless young South Africans often lose hope: new study proves the power of mentorship

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Lauren Graham, Professor at the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, University of Johannesburg

    More than a third of young South Africans are not in employment, education or training. This cohort of 3.4 million (37.1% of those aged 15–24) risks long-term joblessness. Discouragement – giving up looking for work – is also a risk, as the latest data show.

    This has serious social and economic implications. Social and economic exclusion can lead to declining mental health, social drift, long-term dependence on grants and lost economic potential.

    To help break this cycle, a research team we were part of piloted a Basic Package of Support programme that offered personalised coaching and referrals to services to tackle the barriers young people face. Between 2022 and 2024 we worked with 1,700 young people in three of South Africa’s nine provinces – Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. The team worked in peri-urban areas where there were high rates of young people not in education, employment or training.

    The initiative aimed to help young people clarify their goals and find pathways into relevant learning and earning an income.

    The results of the programme showed improved mental health, reduced distress and a stronger sense of belonging. The findings show the power of targeted and multifaceted support to prevent social drift.

    The programme and its participants

    The pilot took place in three peri-urban communities with limited job and learning opportunities, and high rates of poverty and unemployment. We chose these areas for their high rates of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

    Over half of the participants (51%) were aged 18-20, 43% were 21-24 and just under 6% were aged 25-27. While 51% had completed high school, 30% had grade 9-11, and under 2% had less than grade 9. A further 17% held a university degree. Most (77%) had been actively seeking work, or opportunities in training or volunteering (73%), when they started the programme.

    Data were collected at intake and after three sessions. A monitoring survey after each coaching session was used to determine whether the participant was in any earning or learning opportunity.

    The qualitative component included in-depth interviews with young people who had completed multiple coaching sessions. Interviews were conducted six to eight months after pilot sites were opened to explore participants’ situations, experiences of coaching, and any shifts in perspective.

    The primary objective of this pilot phase was to assess the programme’s capability to:

    • engage and support disconnected young people

    • achieve anticipated outcomes, including improved sense of belonging, wellbeing and connection to learning or earning opportunities.

    In general, feelings of being supported and having access to resources in their community were low among the participants: 18.33% reported having had low levels of support in general, from adults and from peers. Young men reported considerably higher access to peer support than women (9% of men rated peer support as low relative to 24% of women).

    One-third of young people reported a lack of access to, or availability of, resources in their community. These resources included health, psychosocial, or training resources.

    Changes in well-being and mental health

    Emotional wellbeing and psychosocial factors are critical precursors to engagement in the labour market. Having a sense of control, positive sense of self-esteem, and future orientation promote resilience, which is critical to searching for and taking up opportunities.

    Research has also shown that spending a long time without learning or earning creates disillusionment and poor mental health, creating a cycle of chronic unemployment and social drift.

    For these reasons we felt it was important to examine how the young people’s well-being had changed as they progressed through the programme. The programme involved:

    • reaching out to young people

    • conducting an assessment to understand where they wanted to go and the barriers they faced

    • coaching sessions

    • referrals to relevant services to overcome barriers

    • opportunites to take steps towards their planned objectives.

    The research team saw positive changes in all emotional well-being indicators, including quality of life, anxiety, emotional distress, and sense of belonging. Participants also showed an interest in taking up available training and work opportunities. They showed improvements in the three key outcomes we examined for this pilot phase.

    Firstly, participants felt supported, were more resilient, and had better mental health outcomes than before they completed three coaching sessions.

    Secondly, they showed increased capacity, knowledge and resources to navigate and access the systems and services needed to realise their aspirations.

    Thirdly, 40% of them took up available opportunities to learn and earn income after just three coaching sessions. Larger numbers of these young people connected to training or education opportunities than to job opportunities. This is hardly surprising in the context of low job growth.

    Taken together, these findings showed that the young people felt more positive about their lives after completing three coaching sessions. They indicated that, prior to starting the programme, they had been feeling unhappy about life and lost about how to move forward in their lives.

    Part of their frustration was not having anyone to talk to about how they were feeling.

    A 21-year-old female participant said after completing round two:

    I didn’t know where I was going in life, what I was going to do, I didn’t know where to start. It was a whole blank page for me.

    A young man said after round one:

    Before I got here, the way I was feeling I didn’t think I can do anything progressive about my life. I had finished high school, but I didn’t know what step to take from there and … I did try but nothing worked … Coaching helped me cope and feel more optimistic.

    Next steps

    The programme is based on the idea that some young people need more time and support to find their way back into work or education. This might mean connecting them to counselling, childcare, nutrition or social grants.

    The pilot revealed high levels of emotional distress, echoing recent labour force data that shows growing discouragement in the working age population. It’s clear that skills training alone isn’t enough; many young people need broader, deeper support to reconnect and thrive.

    Efforts to help young people become employable need to offer more support than simply skills training. People involved in the youth employability/youth employment policy and programming sector have to understand young people from a holistic point of view and take into account the significant barriers that poverty and deprivation continue to create. This is the only way to achieve employability programmes that make an impact.

    – Jobless young South Africans often lose hope: new study proves the power of mentorship
    – https://theconversation.com/jobless-young-south-africans-often-lose-hope-new-study-proves-the-power-of-mentorship-259168

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • NATO fund backs biotech startup in push to counter biological threats

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The NATO Innovation Fund has made its first investment in a biotechnology company, it said on Monday, seeking to enhance defences against biological threats

    The fund is co-leading a $35 million fundraising round for Portal Biotech, which uses protein sequencing to detect engineered threats and defend against biological warfare.

    UK-based Portal Biotech’s capability is essential for biosecurity defence and security, said Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, senior associate at NATO Innovation Fund.

    “We believe that it is absolutely imperative that we are able to detect, monitor and create countermeasures,” she said.

    The fund, created in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, plans to invest more than $1 billion in technologies that would enhance NATO’s defences.

    Portal Biotech uses an AI-backed technology with biological sensors that can work at the single molecule level on-site, giving results within hours.

    “It’s for everything from measuring diseases to better pandemic prevention … you can take this out of large labs with long turnaround times and into the field,” CEO Andy Heron told Reuters.

    Heron said the company’s instruments can detect any pathogen and can be used for continuous monitoring of anything from a field to water supply.

    “It allows you not just to detect what you did know was out there, but it allows you to detect what you didn’t know,” he said.

    Beyond biosecurity, Portal Biotech expects its portable equipment to aid in drug discovery and precision medicine.

    The company’s investors include Earlybird Venture Capital, Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, We VC and British Business Bank.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Laser Focus: DASA and Dstl funding accelerates novel laser detection tech

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Laser Focus: DASA and Dstl funding accelerates novel laser detection tech

    A novel laser detection system developed by Sentinel Photonics has evolved from a promising concept to commercial technology through DASA and Dstl support.

    • Sentinel Photonics was founded in 2019 by former Dstl scientists who developed innovative laser detection technology. The scientists spun out their own company in 2020, licencing the technology from Dstl.
    • Another DASA-funded innovation which protects users’ eyesight from lasers has been adopted on the Army’s KS1 rifles.
    • Sentinel Photonics also secured a DASA Defence Innovation Loan to help grow the size of their team and further develop the technology.
    • The company has grown at a remarkable pace, from one full-time employee to a team of 20, with products being deployed across NATO nations.

    The Innovation Journey

    For military personnel operating in hostile environments, detecting adversaries’ lasers is a vital capability. From artillery targeting systems to drones, sniper range finders and precision strike guided munitions, lasers pose an increasing threat on the modern battlefield.

    This challenge inspired Sean Tipper and Chris Burgess, while working as scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), to develop a new approach to laser detection. Their innovation showed great promise during development at Dstl, where the core technology was conceived and initially tested.

    “We worked on the core technology at Dstl for a number of years, developing the fundamental concepts,” explains Sean Tipper, now Chief Technology Officer at Sentinel Photonics. “We saw the potential for this technology to help protect our forces and founded Sentinel Photonics to take it to the next level of development and productisation.”

    In 2019 the scientists and Ploughshare Innovations founded Sentinel Photonics to commercialise their invention, licencing the IP from Dstl and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The company formally began operations in late 2020 with the critical support of early Dstl funding through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

    A new way of detecting lasers

    Traditional laser warning systems rely on photodiodes that convert light to voltage, looking for rapid temporal changes. They look for quick, sharp changes, similar to how you can notice someone flicking a torch on and off in a dark room.

    While effective for detecting laser pulses, they struggle with continuous wave lasers and can generate false alarms.

    Sentinel’s breakthrough product, LASERD MAX (Laser Signal and Event Recording Device), uses a unique camera-based method that detects the spectral and spatial features of lasers. What sets LASERD MAX apart from conventional systems is its portability and comprehensive coverage. It doesn’t just monitor a narrow field of view but provides complete awareness.

    Sentinel Photonics’ LASERD MAX system in action

    “It’s more of an all-encompassing system,” explains Tipper.  “It’s easy to detect one laser in one direction, but what makes our system unique is the ability to detect many different types of lasers simultaneously in a clustered background, even in challenging daylight conditions.”

    The system can detect everything from drone LIDAR systems and artillery rangefinders to anti-tank guided missiles. It can also spot battlefield scanning systems that use invisible lasers to find hidden optics like sniper scopes.

    “Our system can detect a broad range of laser threats,” says Tipper. “It’s novel because it’s portable and standalone, targeted for dismounted use and also at forward operating bases.”

    The DASA and Dstl Impact

    DASA and Dstl support proved instrumental at multiple points in Sentinel Photonics’ development journey. Their first DASA projects in late 2020 provided critical funding that allowed Tipper to work full-time on developing the technology.

    “Those early DASA projects were really critical because that’s where I experimented with different sensors and camera systems and picked the exact sensors and optics we’re still using today,” says Tipper.

    As Sentinel Photonics progressed with their innovation journey, they reached a critical point where they needed to grow their team to meet increasing demand and develop their technology further.

    In 2022, DASA’s Defence Innovation Loans provided the perfect opportunity to take this next step.

    The loan helped transform the organisation from a founder-led startup into a growing enterprise with the capabilities to deliver advanced defence technology.

    “Without the Defence Innovation Loan, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver for Dstl, and we wouldn’t have had the resources to increase the size of our team,” Tipper notes.

    Commercial Success

    Sentinel Photonics’ progress has been remarkable. From just one person working part-time in 2020, the company has grown to 20 people by 2025. Their product line has expanded to include not just the LASERD MAX detection system but also products such as FROST (Filters for Reduction of Optical Signature Thresholds).

    The FROST system, also developed with DASA funding and Dstl technical support, protects eyes from laser damage and prevents detection by scanning systems. This technology has achieved significant commercial success and has been integrated into the KS1 rifles that have entered service with UK Armed Forces through a partnership with Edgar Brothers, Sentinels UK partner, as part of the Hunter programme.

    Sentinel Photonics’ FROST system installed on a KS1 scope

    The company has also expanded its reach beyond the UK. “We’re expanding across Europe and NATO nations in general, finding partners to bring our products into those markets,” says Tipper. “There’s a direct link from DASA-funded work to us making sales and getting partners into markets.”

    The SME has now established strategic collaborations with Glomex in Poland, TBM in the Netherlands, StarC4SIS in Romania and Precision Technic Defence Group in Denmark to add to its already established partnerships with Danger Solutions in Australia and Outervision in France.

    The Collaborative Ecosystem

    Sentinel’s story highlights the powerful collaboration between Dstl, DASA, and innovative small businesses. Dstl provided the foundation for the core technology and continues to work with Sentinel Photonics by providing technical support. DASA helped bridge the critical gap between concept and the commercially viable product.

    For Sentinel, DASA’s involvement has offered more than just funding. “DASA has been a very useful mechanism to test ideas and feasibility within defence,” explains Tipper. “It gives us a way to understand how important what we’re developing is to potential users and get early sight of that as well.”

    Looking ahead, Sentinel aims to shift from an R&D focused in its early years to a balanced commercial approach to increase their foothold in defence.

    As threats continue to evolve on the modern battlefield, innovations like Sentinel’s laser detection systems and FROST system can play an increasingly vital role in protecting UK and coalition forces. Their journey from laboratory concept to battlefield protection demonstrates the importance of supporting promising defence technologies through the challenging path of commercialisation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Grigory Kulishenko defended the Chinese people at the cost of his life and will forever remain in the memory of future generations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    CHONGQING, June 30 (Xinhua) — Wei Yingxiang, a native of Wanzhou in southwest China’s Chongqing City, never imagined that his life would be linked to a Soviet pilot he had never met. The pilot’s name was Grigory Akimovich Kulishenko.

    Grigory Akimovich Kulishenko, born in 1903, became a squadron commander of bombers in the Soviet Air Force, and in 1939, together with his comrades, was sent by the Soviet government to China with two groups of bombers to help the Chinese people in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

    In October 1939, G. A. Kulishenko, leading a bomber group of the volunteer air forces for aid to China, carried out a raid on the Japanese airfield in Hankou and inflicted serious damage on the Japanese army.

    On the way back, G. A. Kulishenko’s plane was intercepted by the enemy and one of the engines was shot down, as a result of which he was wounded in the chest and left shoulder. When he took off over Wanxian County (now Wanzhou District, Chongqing City), the plane lost its balance, and in order to protect the plane and people on the ground, the commander refused the parachute and made an emergency landing on the surface of the Yangtze River in the Chenjiaba District of Wanxian County.

    Two of his comrades swam to the shore, but the wounded Kulishenko was carried away by the current and died a heroic death at the age of 36.

    Local residents found the pilot’s body 20 days later. They held a memorial service and funeral in his honor.

    “I experience the misfortune of the Chinese people as if I were experiencing the misfortune of my homeland. It is very hard for me to see how the Japanese indiscriminately bomb Chinese soil,” G. Kulishenko said with feeling during his lifetime.

    The Chinese people have not forgotten this hero.

    In 1958, the Wanxian County People’s Government built a special cemetery for G. Kulishenko. That year, Wei Yingxiang was 4 years old. He thought that this hero must be great.

    Wei Yingxiang’s grandfather lived by the Yangtze River and volunteered to search for G. A. Kulishenko’s remains along the river along with many other people. His grandfather told him that G. A. Kulishenko died defending the Chinese people.

    That year, Wei Yingxiang’s mother, Tan Zhonghui, took on the duties of guardian of G.A. Kulishenko’s grave. At the age of 31, Tan Zhonghui was engaged in landscaping in Xishan Park. Due to her respect for G.A. Kulishenko, she volunteered to guard the grave, clean the cemetery, wipe the tombstone, pull out weeds, trim branches and leaves, regardless of the weather.

    In 1977, before retiring, Wei Yingxiang’s mother wanted to entrust her son with guarding the grave. Young Wei Yongxiang thought that working at the cemetery was boring and monotonous. But his mother insisted that he should be persistent even in monotonous tasks: “This hero’s home is far from Chongqing, and he has no relatives here, so we should accompany him and not let him feel lonely.”

    Since then, guarding the grave of Grigory Kulishenko became the most honorable thing in Wei Yingxiang’s life. There were organizations and enterprises that offered him a high salary, but Wei Yingxiang rejected the offers one after another.

    After retiring in 2014, he still visits the cemetery every day, as if visiting an old friend. “I always worry and worry about him,” Wei Yingxiang said, adding that his mother also influenced him. After her retirement, she would go to the cemetery every morning to check if everything was in order, so that her heart would be at peace. In 2018, Tan Zhonghui died at the age of 91. Before her death, she still remembered Grigory Kulishenko’s grave and asked her son to protect it.

    For decades, under the care of this mother and son, the G. A. Kulishenko cemetery has served as an example of the gratitude of the Chinese people, and the exploits of the heroes have been passed down from generation to generation.

    Around the tombstone of G. Kulishenko grow tall trees planted by Tan Zhonghui, Wei Yingxiang’s mother. He said that he would guard this grave during his lifetime, because for him “this is not only a responsibility and deep gratitude, but also the conscience of the Chinese people.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: ESET North America Announces Winners of the Tenth Annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, is proud to announce the winners of its tenth annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across the US and Canada, the ten scholarship recipients impressed the review panel with their academic achievements, passion for cybersecurity, and commitment to making a positive impact in STEM fields.

    This year marks a milestone in the program’s evolution with the continued expansion of the Cybersecurity Trailblazer Award Tier, a designation reserved for the most exceptional applicants who have demonstrated outstanding technical proficiency, leadership, and a deep, sustained focus on cybersecurity. The recipients of this year’s Cybersecurity Trailblazer Awards are U.S.’ Alexis Eskenazi, Crystal Yang, and Ismat Jarin, each receiving a $10,000 scholarship in recognition of their exemplary work. The Canadian Trailblazer recipients are Azka Siddiqui and Constance Prevot, each receiving a $5,000 scholarship for their remarkable contributions and potential to drive change within the field.

    This year, Canada also saw the launch of the Future Leader Award, a new scholarship tier recognizing emerging talent with strong potential in the field of cybersecurity. Five students were selected to receive $1,000 scholarships: Yushika Jhundoo, Meadow Agbor, Tina Ismail, Vrinda Joshi, and Yashvi Shah. Together, these individuals have shown exceptional promise as future leaders in cybersecurity. Their ambitions and achievements reflect the values at the heart of the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship: innovation, inclusion, and impact.

    “This scholarship has always been deeply personal to us at ESET,” said Celeste Blodgett, Vice President of Human Resources at ESET North America. “As we celebrate its tenth year, I’m incredibly proud to recognize this group of brilliant and driven women. With so many outstanding applicants this year, selecting the final recipients was no easy task. What set these winners apart was not only their technical excellence, but also their drive to lead and create meaningful change. They represent the future of cybersecurity, and we’re honored to support them on their journey.”

    ESET North America awarded $45,000 in scholarships this year to celebrate the program’s tenth anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to building a more inclusive and secure digital future.

    Learn more about the Trailblazer Award recipients:

    Alexis Eskenazi, Berkeley, California, United States: Alexis Eskenazi’s journey into cybersecurity began with competitive robotics, where building championship-level robots sparked her interest in how connected systems function. That passion led her to launch Eskenazi Ed-Tech & AI Consulting, bringing hands-on STEM education to over 400 students globally. From mentoring the world’s first all-female Indigenous robotics team in New Zealand to researching vulnerabilities in U.S. healthcare and semiconductor infrastructure, Alexis blends technical insight with education and policy to advance a more secure, inclusive digital world.

    “Through work in technology, policy, and education, I’ve learned how to navigate complexity, and through community engagement, how to make that knowledge actionable,” said Alexis. “The ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship represents critical support for my continued integration of technical, educational, and policy-driven cybersecurity work.”

    Crystal Yang, Katy, Texas, United States: Crystal Yang’s interest in cybersecurity was sparked by watching scam-baiting videos, which seem humorous on the surface, but reveal just how vulnerable people can be to social engineering. Determined to fight back, she built TimeWaster3000, an AI-powered bot that wastes scammers’ time using natural language processing and speech recognition. As the founder of Audemy.org, Crystal has also created AI-driven educational games used by more than 5,000 blind and visually impaired students worldwide and implemented in 19 schools. Today, she is focused on cybersecurity projects aimed at scam awareness and social engineering defense for businesses.

    “Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data,” said Crystal. “It’s about protecting people. Winning this scholarship helps me build tech that defends not just with firewalls, but with empathy, creativity, and humor.”

    Ismat Jarin, Irvine, California, United States: Ismat Jarin’s path to cybersecurity began in her home country, where early experiences with societal biases and privacy violations fueled her resolve to protect underrepresented communities through technology. She became the first woman from her town to rank in the top 2% nationally for admission to her country’s top engineering university, later earning a Master’s in Systems and Security from UM Dearborn and now pursuing a Ph.D. at UC Irvine. Her research explores privacy risks in AI/LLMs and emerging technologies and has been published at leading conferences like PETS, NeurIPS(WiML) and CODASPY. Beyond research, Ismat is a passionate mentor and advocate, helping first-generation and underrepresented students find belonging and success in cybersecurity.

    “For women from restrictive backgrounds like mine, it’s not just about breaking barriers,” said Ismat. “It’s about paving new paths so others can thrive. Ultimately, my contributions will help create a more inclusive and innovative cybersecurity landscape, where every individual can thrive.”

    Azka Siddiqui, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: Azka Siddiqui’s passion for computer science began in fourth grade when she programmed Dash robots during a classroom activity, sparking her fascination with the intersection of hardware and software. Her interest in cybersecurity solidified during a 2024 internship at Nokia, where she helped refine an advanced filter tool that monitored over 10,000 alarms. In addition to furthering her technical skills, Azka serves as Vice Chair of a national nonprofit empowering girls in STEM, has led a coding club spanning three Canadian provinces, and conducted research on smart-grid anomaly detection and eye-tracking technologies in university labs. This fall, Azka will begin her Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where she plans to focus on cybersecurity and AI with an emphasis on making digital spaces safer for women.

    “As a young woman of color in tech, I’ve often felt like I had to work twice as hard just to be seen. Winning the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship reminds me that I do belong — not just in this field, but at the forefront of it. With ESET’s support, I’m committed to not only advancing my own journey in building ethical and secure technologies but also to challenging the barriers that keep others, especially women, from stepping into these spaces.”

    Constance Prevot, Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada: Constance Prevot’s journey into cybersecurity began at Concordia University, where a Capture-The-Flag competition sparked a passion that would shape her academic and professional path. She has since represented Canada at the 2024 International Cybersecurity Competition in Chile, served as a SOC Analyst at OnePoint for Desjardins, conducted adversary-focused research at GoSecure, and co-presented her findings at conferences including HOPE and BSides. As President of Concordia University’s Software Engineering and Computer Science Society, she has led initiatives to make cybersecurity education more accessible, including launching “compétitionsquebec,” a platform cataloging local competitions and training resources.

    “I believe in creating environments where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and contribute their unique perspectives,” said Constance. “By continuing to bridge research, practice, education, and community engagement, I hope to help build a more secure and inclusive cybersecurity ecosystem.”

    Future Leader Awards: This inaugural award proudly recognizes five exceptional students who exemplify the next generation of innovators and changemakers. With a $1,000 award, these students are being honored not only for their academic excellence but also for their passion and potential to shape the future of technology. This year’s awardees are:

    • Yushika Jhundoo (Ottawa, ON) – Computer Science, University of Ottawa: Tech community builder and cybersecurity enthusiast dedicated to inclusive outreach and digital empowerment.
    • Meadow Agbor (Calgary, AB) – Computer Information Systems, Mount Royal University (MRU): Cybersecurity intern and youth mentor with a passion for digital safety and inclusive community engagement.
    • Tina Ismail (Mississauga, ON) – Electrical Engineering, McMaster University: Cybersecurity enthusiast and IEEE leader blending technical innovation, educational research, and creative expression.
    • Vrinda Joshi (Markham, ON) – Systems Design Engineering (Co-op), University of Waterloo: STEM equity advocate and nonprofit co-founder empowering youth through coding, robotics, and hands-on innovation.
    • Yashvi Shah (Caledon, ON) – Computer Engineering (Co-op), University of Toronto: Innovative researcher and tech educator with experience in AI, 3D simulation, and youth empowerment through coding and wellness initiatives.

    Blodgett adds, “ESET extends heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Their drive, curiosity, and commitment to cybersecurity exemplify the very best of what the next generation has to offer. As ESET looks ahead to the future, the company remains dedicated to supporting women in cybersecurity and building a more inclusive and secure digital world for all.”

    Learn more about the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship here.

    About ESET

    ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of emerging global cyberthreats, both known and unknown— securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. The ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow our social media, podcasts and blogs.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield supporting Whitehaven Science Fair

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Sellafield supporting Whitehaven Science Fair

    Local science fair in Whitehaven, West Cumbria goes from strength to strength.

    We were pleased to support Whitehaven Town Council in hosting the 5th Annual Whitehaven Science Fair, working in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services to plan and deliver a two-day programme focused on innovation, scientific curiosity and community engagement.

    The first day welcomed primary school pupils to experience an engaging theatre-style science demonstration, followed by interactive exhibits located in the robotics and technology marquees.

    Local employers, including ourselves and Nuclear Waste Services, presented a range of technologies and provided hands-on activities. These included opportunities to operate robots, participate in educational games, test coordination skills, and meet Spot-the-dog.

    By offering such experiences, the event helps inspire an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among young people and encourages them to consider future careers in these areas.

    Members of the public also attended throughout the day to learn more about current developments on the Sellafield site and the work of organisations contributing to innovation in the local area.

    Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria, Gerard Richardson,  said:

    I couldn’t be more delighted with the turnout, not just from schools and pupils but also from curious members of the public who really enjoyed the experience.

    What a great event this has developed into, and we are so proud of the partnership that has grown with Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Waste Services, 3d360, Atkins and a host of other companies.

    The second day focused on career development, with Year 9 pupils from local secondary schools attending a careers fair. A range of local businesses were present to share information on early career pathways and work experience opportunities.

    Carol Parkinson, education outreach manager at Sellafield Ltd, said:

    It was a fantastic chance to engage directly with young people and highlight the career options available to them within the local area.

    We offer a wide variety of early careers programmes, and it is important that students are made aware of these at an early stage. It was also encouraging to see the breadth of opportunities presented by other local employers.

    Work Experience | Graduates, Placements & Apprenticeships | Sellafield Ltd Careers

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Puducherry LG discuss coastal strategy, Deep Ocean Mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan met on Monday to deliberate on a comprehensive coastal action plan, exploring the Union Territory’s role in India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission. The discussions focused on sustainable coastal development, beach management, and leveraging ocean-based economic opportunities.

    Addressing concerns over coastal erosion and environmental degradation, Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for a permanent mechanism for coastal cleaning and management in Puducherry. He assured full support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and said coordination with the Puducherry Chief Secretary would be initiated to implement the plan effectively.

    Highlighting Puducherry’s strategic location, the Union Minister outlined its potential in deep sea fishing, seabed mineral exploration, and marine research. He informed that India’s Deep Ocean Mission, currently in its first phase, is set for sea trials in early 2026, with the aim of establishing a strong underwater research and exploration capability by 2027 using indigenous technology.

    Jitendra Singh noted that critical seabed minerals, such as polymetallic nodules, could enhance India’s technological and economic standing globally. He also called for efforts to generate local employment and revenue through regulated marine activities.

    Applauding Puducherry’s readiness to collaborate on national missions, the Union Minister stressed the importance of integrating science, governance, and community participation to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.

  • MIL-OSI: Minovia Therapeutics Announces FDA Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease Designations for MNV-201 in Pearson Syndrome

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Haifa, ISRAEL, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Minovia Therapeutics Ltd. (“Minovia” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat mitochondrial diseases and combat age-related decline, announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to the Company’s lead investigational compound, MNV-201. The FDA has also granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to MNV-201, which is in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Pearson Syndrome, an ultra-rare and life-threatening mitochondrial disorder affecting children.

    “Both Fast Track Designation and Pediatric Rare Disease Designation are critical milestones for Minovia, as they strongly validate the clinical approach for our science, while also acknowledging the urgent need for new treatment options for Pearson Syndrome. Importantly, these FDA designations help us to decrease the potential time to market and provide additional benefits across the FDA process that will prove both medically and financially valuable,” said Minovia Co-founder and CEO, Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, Ph.D.

    FDA’s Fast Track Designation is designed to accelerate the development and review of therapies for serious or life-threatening conditions with unmet medical need. The designation provides Minovia with the opportunity for increased FDA interactions, potential eligibility for priority review, and the opportunity for a rolling submission of a future Biologics License Application (BLA) for MNV-201. Concurrently, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPD) is granted to drugs which are under development for rare childhood diseases and provides the Company with the potential to receive a pediatric priority review voucher (PRV) if the drug is initially approved for that rare childhood disease. A PRV grants the holder an expedited six-month review of a new drug application. PRVs are tradeable and have historically commanded prices in excess of US$100 million, although currently PRV programs are on hold awaiting reauthorization by Congress.

    Minovia is currently conducting an IND-enabled Phase 2 clinical trial of MNV-201 in Pearson Syndrome. The Company is advancing interactions with the FDA to finalize a pivotal trial design and expects to initiate registrational studies in 2026.

    The Company also recently announced entry into a definitive business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Launch One Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: LPAA, “Launch One”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. Following the expected closing of the transaction contemplated by this Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination”), projected for late 2025, the combined company will operate as Minovia Therapeutics and trade on Nasdaq under a new ticker symbol.

    About MNV-201

    MNV-201 is a first-in-class cell therapy that uses Minovia’s proprietary Mitochondrial Augmentation Technology (MAT) to add healthy, energy-producing mitochondria into a patient’s own stem cells — aiming to restore organ function and improve health. In early-stage clinical studies, MAT has demonstrated a strong safety profile and signs of multi-system benefit in patients with Pearson Syndrome, including improvements in growth, muscle function, hematologic stability, and improved quality of life.

    About Pearson Syndrome

    Pearson Syndrome is caused by large-scale deletions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that impair the energy-generating function of cells, leading to bone marrow failure, metabolic crises, and organ dysfunction. With no approved therapies, current care is purely supportive, and patients die during childhood.

    About Minovia Therapeutics

    Minovia Therapeutics, chaired by John Cox, is a clinical-state biotechnology company working on treatments to replace dead or defective mitochondria with new healthy mitochondria, helping people with mitochondrial diseases and fighting aging. Its main treatment, MNV-201, is already being tested for Pearson Syndrome and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Minovia is also developing ways to help people live longer, healthier lives. Based in Haifa, Israel, where it operates a GMP facility for mitochondrial drug substance and drug product manufacturing for clinical trials related to its therapy, Minovia is expanding to the U.S. For more information, visit www.minoviatx.com.

    About Launch One Acquisition Corp.

    Launch One Acquisition Corp. is a company set up to merge with and take public an exciting business in healthcare or technology. Listed on Nasdaq under the ticker LPAA, Launch One is led by experienced leaders who want to support game-changing solutions. For more information, contact Jurgen van de Vyver at jurgen@launchpad.vc.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Business Combination and the Business Combination Agreement, among Launch One, Minovia and Mito US One Ltd., a newly formed Israeli company limited by shares (“Pubco”), and certain other parties named therein. Launch One and Minovia intend to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including a Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Pubco (the “Registration Statement”), which will include a proxy statement/prospectus of Launch One, and will file other documents regarding the proposed Business Combination with the SEC. This communication is not intended to be, and is not, a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that Launch One has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination. The Registration Statement has not been filed or declared effective by the SEC. Following such filing and upon such declaration of effectiveness, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus contained within the Registration Statement and other relevant materials for the proposed Business Combination will be mailed or made available to stockholders of Launch One as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination.

    Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and stockholders of Launch One are urged to carefully read, when they become available, the entire Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important information about Launch One, Minovia, Pubco and the proposed Business Combination. Launch One’s investors and stockholders and other interested persons will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, and all other relevant documents filed with the SEC by Launch One and/or Pubco in connection with the Business Combination, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Launch One or Minovia at the addresses set forth below.

    Participants In the Solicitation

    Launch One, Minovia, Pubco and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Launch One’s stockholders with respect to the Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, and interests in the Business Combination, of Launch One’s directors and officers in Pubco’s and Launch One’s filings with the SEC, including, when filed with the SEC, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, amendments and supplements thereto, and other documents filed with the SEC. Such information with respect to Minovia’s directors and executive officers will also be included in the proxy statement/prospectus. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described above under the heading “Additional Information and Where to Find It.”

    Non-Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Launch One, Pubco, or Minovia, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about future events or Minovia’s, Launch One’s, or Pubco’s future financial or operating performance. For example, statements regarding the development and regulatory approval of MNV-201, the implications of Fast Track Designation, RPD and PRVs and the timing of future clinical trials or potential applications are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “project,” “strive,” “budget,” “forecast,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.

    These forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future results of Minovia or Launch One are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which Minovia or Launch One operates, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of Minovia’s and Launch One’s management. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to, without limitation, (i) known and unknown risks, including the risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of Launch One relating to its initial public offering filed with the SEC, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Launch One or Pubco; (ii) uncertainties; (iii) assumptions; and (v) other factors beyond Minovia’s or Launch One’s control that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. They are neither statements of historical fact nor promises or guarantees of future performance. Therefore, Minovia’s actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and Minovia and Launch One therefore caution against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Minovia and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and are inherently subject to risks, variability and contingencies, many of which are beyond Minovia’s or Launch One’s control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the Business Combination; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Launch One, Minovia, Pubco, or others following the announcement of the Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (iii) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain consents and approvals of the shareholders of Launch One and Minovia, to obtain financing to complete the Business Combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing, or delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; (iv) changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; (v) projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, and the estimated implied enterprise value of Minovia; (vi) Minovia’s ability to scale and grow its business, and the advantages and expected growth of Minovia; (vii) Minovia’s ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of Minovia following closing of the Business Combination; (viii) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards in connection with, and following, the consummation of the Business Combination; (ix) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Minovia as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (x) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Minovia to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; (xi) costs related to the Business Combination; (xii) changes in applicable laws, regulations, political and economic developments; (xiii) the possibility that Minovia may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (xiv) Minovia’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (xv) the failure to realize estimated shareholder redemptions, purchase price and other adjustments; and (xvi) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the filings by Launch One and Minovia with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither Launch One nor Minovia presently know or that Launch One and Minovia currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Launch One or Minovia speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Launch One nor Minovia undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in their respective expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

    Contact

    Minovia Therapeutics Ltd.
    Natalie Yivgi Ohana, Co-Founder and CEO
    +972-74-7039954
    info@minoviatx.com

    Launch One Acquisition Corp.
    Jurgen van de Vyver
    jurgen@launchpad.vc
    +1-510-692-9600

    Investor Relations
    Dave Gentry, CEO
    RedChip Companies
    +1-407-644-4256
    LPAA@redchip.com

    Investor Relations
    Jules Abraham
    Managing Director, Communications
    CORE IR
    1-212-655-0924
    Julesa@coreir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kumar Venkitanarayanan Named Interim Dean of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Kumar Venkitanarayanan, professor of animal science, has been named interim dean for the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).

    “Dr. Venkitanarayanan is deeply committed to the success of CAHNR, its people, and the communities it serves,” said UConn Provost Anne D’Alleva in a message to the College announcing Venkitanarayanan’s appointment. “I am grateful to him for stepping into this role and for the continuity and leadership he will provide during this period of transition.”

    Venkitanarayanan is a leader in the field of egg and poultry meat safety. Venkitanarayanan’s research focuses on developing novel, organic antimicrobials to combat foodborne pathogens in an age of antibiotic resistance. Venkitanarayanan is currently leading a $10 million USDA-NIFA grant focused on sustainable poultry production with objectives to improve bird, human, and environmental health.

    Venkitanarayanan previously served as CAHNR senior associate dean for research and graduate studies. Venkitanarayanan played a key role in establishing formal connections with Indian universities creating opportunities for student and faculty in both countries. In 2021, Venkitanarayanan was named a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

    Venkitanarayanan will serve in this position while the College completes a national search to fill the position permanently. This transition follows former Dean Indrajeet Chaubey’s departure from the University. Chaubey served as dean for six years and is now Provost at the University of Arkansas. Ock Chun, professor in the Department of Nutritional Science, will serve as interim associate dean for research and graduate studies during Venkitanarayanan’s term as interim dean. Her term begins August 24, 2025.

    “I am honored to support the teaching, research, and extension mission at CAHNR,” says Venkitanarayanan. “I am excited to continue to seek creative strategies to elevate CAHNR’s unique strengths and amplify our impactful programs that reach all of Connecticut’s cities and towns, as well as communities around the world.”

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kneat Announces Upcoming Change to its Senior Leadership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMERICK, Ireland, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTCQC: KSIOF), a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, announces a change to its senior leadership team.

    Hugh Kavanagh, our CFO, is retiring from Kneat to spend more time pursuing other interests. We wish him the very best for the future. During his time at Kneat, Hugh contributed significantly to our success, helping the Company to grow to its current level and building a strong finance team. We have very much enjoyed working with Hugh and will miss his valuable contributions, his friendship and ongoing financial guidance at all levels within the Company.

    Dave O’Reilly will join the Kneat team as our new CFO on July 7th. Most recently, Dave served as CFO at Ekco for seven years. During his time there he helped scale this fast-growing cloud business from a start up to $200 million in annual revenue. He was responsible for directing financial strategy and operations, driving rapid business growth, and establishing Ekco as a market leader in the European Managed Security Service space. He built and led high-performing finance, accounting, and FP&A teams, fostering a culture of accountability and strategic alignment. Prior to his time at Ekco he served as the international controller for a $4 billion-SaaS business, Consensus Cloud Solutions/Ziff Davis Inc., formerly J2 Global. Dave holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University and is a licensed CPA.

    Dave will partner with Hugh for a period of one month – to ensure a smooth transition, and Hugh’s final day with the company will be Friday, August 8th.

    “I’d like to thank Hugh and our finance team for their continued dedication to Kneat and trust in their combined leadership to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months,” said Eddie Ryan, Kneat CEO. “I look forward to working with Dave, I’m confident he will have a considerable impact, as we continue to scale the value we deliver for Life Sciences.”

    About Kneat

    Kneat Solutions provides leading companies in highly regulated industries with unparalleled efficiency in validation and compliance through its digital validation platform Kneat Gx. As an industry leader in customer satisfaction, Kneat boasts an excellent record for implementation, powered by our user-friendly design, expert support, and on-demand training academy. Kneat Gx is an industry-leading digital validation platform that enables highly regulated companies to manage any validation discipline from end-to-end. Kneat Gx is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, fully validated, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 compliant. Multiple independent customer studies show up to 40% reduction in documentation cycle times, up to 20% faster speed to market, and a higher compliance standard.

    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat’s business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat’s software within the customer’s validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat’s software within the customer’s organization, and the compliance of Kneat’s platform under regulatory audit and inspection. While such forward-looking statements are expressed by Kneat, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by Kneat to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties.

    Kneat does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investor’s own risk.

    For more information visit www.kneat.com.

    Contact:

    Katie Keita, Kneat Investor Relations
    P: + 1 902-450-2660
    E: investors@kneat.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Kneat Announces Upcoming Change to its Senior Leadership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMERICK, Ireland, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTCQC: KSIOF), a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, announces a change to its senior leadership team.

    Hugh Kavanagh, our CFO, is retiring from Kneat to spend more time pursuing other interests. We wish him the very best for the future. During his time at Kneat, Hugh contributed significantly to our success, helping the Company to grow to its current level and building a strong finance team. We have very much enjoyed working with Hugh and will miss his valuable contributions, his friendship and ongoing financial guidance at all levels within the Company.

    Dave O’Reilly will join the Kneat team as our new CFO on July 7th. Most recently, Dave served as CFO at Ekco for seven years. During his time there he helped scale this fast-growing cloud business from a start up to $200 million in annual revenue. He was responsible for directing financial strategy and operations, driving rapid business growth, and establishing Ekco as a market leader in the European Managed Security Service space. He built and led high-performing finance, accounting, and FP&A teams, fostering a culture of accountability and strategic alignment. Prior to his time at Ekco he served as the international controller for a $4 billion-SaaS business, Consensus Cloud Solutions/Ziff Davis Inc., formerly J2 Global. Dave holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University and is a licensed CPA.

    Dave will partner with Hugh for a period of one month – to ensure a smooth transition, and Hugh’s final day with the company will be Friday, August 8th.

    “I’d like to thank Hugh and our finance team for their continued dedication to Kneat and trust in their combined leadership to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months,” said Eddie Ryan, Kneat CEO. “I look forward to working with Dave, I’m confident he will have a considerable impact, as we continue to scale the value we deliver for Life Sciences.”

    About Kneat

    Kneat Solutions provides leading companies in highly regulated industries with unparalleled efficiency in validation and compliance through its digital validation platform Kneat Gx. As an industry leader in customer satisfaction, Kneat boasts an excellent record for implementation, powered by our user-friendly design, expert support, and on-demand training academy. Kneat Gx is an industry-leading digital validation platform that enables highly regulated companies to manage any validation discipline from end-to-end. Kneat Gx is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, fully validated, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 compliant. Multiple independent customer studies show up to 40% reduction in documentation cycle times, up to 20% faster speed to market, and a higher compliance standard.

    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat’s business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat’s software within the customer’s validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat’s software within the customer’s organization, and the compliance of Kneat’s platform under regulatory audit and inspection. While such forward-looking statements are expressed by Kneat, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by Kneat to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties.

    Kneat does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investor’s own risk.

    For more information visit www.kneat.com.

    Contact:

    Katie Keita, Kneat Investor Relations
    P: + 1 902-450-2660
    E: investors@kneat.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Kneat Announces Upcoming Change to its Senior Leadership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMERICK, Ireland, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTCQC: KSIOF), a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, announces a change to its senior leadership team.

    Hugh Kavanagh, our CFO, is retiring from Kneat to spend more time pursuing other interests. We wish him the very best for the future. During his time at Kneat, Hugh contributed significantly to our success, helping the Company to grow to its current level and building a strong finance team. We have very much enjoyed working with Hugh and will miss his valuable contributions, his friendship and ongoing financial guidance at all levels within the Company.

    Dave O’Reilly will join the Kneat team as our new CFO on July 7th. Most recently, Dave served as CFO at Ekco for seven years. During his time there he helped scale this fast-growing cloud business from a start up to $200 million in annual revenue. He was responsible for directing financial strategy and operations, driving rapid business growth, and establishing Ekco as a market leader in the European Managed Security Service space. He built and led high-performing finance, accounting, and FP&A teams, fostering a culture of accountability and strategic alignment. Prior to his time at Ekco he served as the international controller for a $4 billion-SaaS business, Consensus Cloud Solutions/Ziff Davis Inc., formerly J2 Global. Dave holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Dublin City University and is a licensed CPA.

    Dave will partner with Hugh for a period of one month – to ensure a smooth transition, and Hugh’s final day with the company will be Friday, August 8th.

    “I’d like to thank Hugh and our finance team for their continued dedication to Kneat and trust in their combined leadership to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months,” said Eddie Ryan, Kneat CEO. “I look forward to working with Dave, I’m confident he will have a considerable impact, as we continue to scale the value we deliver for Life Sciences.”

    About Kneat

    Kneat Solutions provides leading companies in highly regulated industries with unparalleled efficiency in validation and compliance through its digital validation platform Kneat Gx. As an industry leader in customer satisfaction, Kneat boasts an excellent record for implementation, powered by our user-friendly design, expert support, and on-demand training academy. Kneat Gx is an industry-leading digital validation platform that enables highly regulated companies to manage any validation discipline from end-to-end. Kneat Gx is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, fully validated, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 compliant. Multiple independent customer studies show up to 40% reduction in documentation cycle times, up to 20% faster speed to market, and a higher compliance standard.

    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat’s business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat’s software within the customer’s validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat’s software within the customer’s organization, and the compliance of Kneat’s platform under regulatory audit and inspection. While such forward-looking statements are expressed by Kneat, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by Kneat to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties.

    Kneat does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at an investor’s own risk.

    For more information visit www.kneat.com.

    Contact:

    Katie Keita, Kneat Investor Relations
    P: + 1 902-450-2660
    E: investors@kneat.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Accredited Investors: Navigating the Post-Pandemic Landscape

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new era of early-stage investing takes center stage this summer as Keiretsu Forum South-East, the Angel Capital Association (ACA), and Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) announce the Southeast Investor Conference, set for July 29–30, 2025, in Atlanta.

    The two-day program is designed to deliver candid insights, curated deal flow, and pragmatic strategies to navigate an investment landscape that has transformed dramatically in recent years. Attendees will explore evolving trends shaping portfolio management, early exits, and innovative funding models—while engaging with the entrepreneurs building the next generation of market solutions.

    The Southeast Investor Conference will feature a blend of educational programming and direct access to capital-ready startups. Notable sessions include:

    • Angel Returns & Portfolio Strategy, led by Rick Timmins, an ACA instructor and veteran investor, with data-driven approaches to diversification and IRR in uncertain markets.
    • Paradigm Shift in Early-Stage Investing, a discussion with Howard Lubert, Regional President of Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, South-East & Texas, and serial entrepreneur Christian Haller, exploring nimble investment approaches in the post-pandemic environment.
    • Leadership for Investors to Curate + Cultivate, to Profit in Turbulent Times, an interactive session led by Dr. Louise Yochee and Dr. Merom Klein, focused on identifying and cultivating the leadership attributes that drive portfolio success.
    • A keynote address from Ron Weissman, offering an unfiltered look at the state of early-stage investing, regional deal dynamics, and opportunities emerging across the Southeast innovation economy.

    The conference also includes a curated Startup Showcase, featuring promising early-stage companies actively raising capital. Participating founders will present their ventures to an audience of active accredited investors, followed by structured Q&A and networking opportunities during the investor reception and conference dinner.

    Organizers welcome angel groups throughout the Southeast with exceptional deal flow to connect regarding participation in the showcase. The event aims to spotlight founders and investment opportunities demonstrating market traction, clear pathways to scale, and strong potential for timely exits.

    The Southeast Investor Conference is supported by Accorto Regulatory Solutions, whose sponsorship underscores their commitment to strengthening the innovation landscape. They are a boutique regulatory firm that helps domestic and international companies bring FDA-regulated product concepts to market. Accorto partners with entrepreneurs and investors to accelerate compliant commercialization of breakthrough technologies.

    “The investment environment has never been more demanding,” said Barry Etra, Director of Entrepreneur Services, Keiretsu Forum. “This conference was designed to provide both the clarity and the connections serious investors need to navigate these cycles with confidence.”

    Registration for the Southeast Investor Conference is open to accredited investors and investment professionals. Capacity is limited to preserve the highly interactive format of the sessions and networking components. Register at https://www.k4-mst-investorconference.com/

    About Keiretsu Forum South-East
    Keiretsu Forum is the world’s largest and most active accredited investor community, with over 2,000 members across 50+ chapters globally. Since its founding, Keiretsu members have invested over $1 billion in early-stage companies spanning technology, life sciences, consumer products, and beyond.

    About the Angel Capital Association
    The Angel Capital Association is a professional alliance of accredited angel investors in North America. Representing more than 15,000 angels and over 250 angel groups and platforms, ACA supports investor education, public policy, and industry standards.

    About Georgia Tech’s ATDC
    The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech is the state of Georgia’s technology incubator, helping entrepreneurs build and scale technology companies that make an impact.

    For media inquiries or information about participation in the Startup Showcase, please contact:

    Cindi Sutera
    K4-MST Communications
    CindiS@AMScommunications.net
    610-613-2773

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Stewart Edie, Research Geologist and Curator of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution

    Even bivalves looked different during the time of the dinosaurs, as these fossils of an ultra-fortified oyster, left, and armored cockle show. Smithsonian Institution

    About 66 million years ago – perhaps on a downright unlucky day in May – an asteroid smashed into our planet.

    The fallout was immediate and severe. Evidence shows that about 70% of species went extinct in a geological instant, and not just those famous dinosaurs that once stalked the land. Masters of the Mesozoic oceans were also wiped out, from mosasaurs – a group of aquatic reptiles topping the food chain – to exquisitely shelled squid relatives known as ammonites.

    Even groups that weathered the catastrophe, such as mammals, fishes and flowering plants, suffered severe population declines and species loss. Invertebrate life in the oceans didn’t fare much better.

    But bubbling away on the seafloor was a stolid group of animals that has left a fantastic fossil record and continues to thrive today: bivalves – clams, cockles, mussels, oysters and more.

    What happened to these creatures during the extinction event and how they rebounded tells an important story, both about the past and the future of biodiversity.

    Surprising discoveries on the seafloor

    Marine bivalves lost around three-quarters of their species during this mass extinction, which marked the end of the Cretaceous Period. My colleagues and I – each of us paleobiologists studying biodiversity – expected that losing so many species would have severely cut down the variety of roles that bivalves play within their environments, what we call their “modes of life.”

    But, as we explain in a study published in the journal Sciences Advances, that wasn’t the case. In assessing the fossils of thousands of bivalve species, we found that at least one species from nearly all their modes of life, no matter how rare or specialized, squeaked through the extinction event.

    Statistically, that shouldn’t have happened. Kill 70% of bivalve species, even at random, and some modes of life should disappear.

    Bivalves had an amazing array of life modes just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago. Incredibly, despite the loss of 70% of their species, all but two modes of life survived – Nos. 2 and 10.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    Most bivalves happily burrow into the sand and mud, feeding on phytoplankton they strain from the water. But others have adopted chemosymbionts and photosymbionts – bacteria and algae that produce nutrients for the bivalves from chemicals or sunlight in exchange for housing. A few have even become carnivorous. Some groups, including the oysters, can lay down a tough cement that hardens underwater, and mussels hold onto rocks by spinning silken threads.

    We thought surely these more specialized modes of life would have been snuffed out by the effects of the asteroid’s impact, including dust and debris likely blocking sunlight and disrupting a huge part of the bivalves’ food chain: photosynthetic algae and bacteria. Instead, most persisted, although biodiversity was forever scrambled as a new ecological landscape emerged. Species that were once dominant struggled, while evolutionary newcomers rose in their place.

    The reasons some species survived and others didn’t leave many questions to explore. Those that filtered phytoplankton from the water column suffered some of the highest species losses, but so did species that fed on organic scraps and didn’t rely as much on the Sun’s energy. Narrow geographic distributions and different metabolisms may have contributed to these extinction patterns.

    Biodiversity bounces back

    Life rebounded from each of the Big Five mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history, eventually punching through past diversity highs. The rich fossil record and spectacular ecological diversity of bivalves gives us a terrific opportunity to study these rebounds to understand how ecosystems and global biodiversity rebuild in the wake of extinctions.

    The extinction caused by the asteroid strike knocked down some thriving modes of life and opened the door for others to dominate the new landscape.

    The rebound from the extinction wasn’t so straightforward. Some modes of life lost nearly all their species, never to recover their past diversity. Others rose to take the top ranks. Genera is the plural of genus.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    While many people lament the loss of the dinosaurs, we malacologists miss the rudists.

    These bizarrely shaped bivalves resembled giant ice cream cones, sometimes reaching more than 3 feet (1 meter) in size, and they dominated the shallow, tropical Mesozoic seas as massive aggregations of contorted individuals, similar to today’s coral reefs. At least a few harbored photosymbiotic algae, which provided them with nutrients and spurred their growth, much like modern corals.

    An ancient fossil of a rudist from before the last mass extinction. These bivalves could grow to a meter high.
    Smithsonian Institution

    Today, giant clams (Tridacna) and their relatives fill parts of these unique photosymbiotic lifestyles once occupied by the rudists, but they lack the rudists’ astonishing species diversity.

    Mass extinctions clearly upend the status quo. Now, our ocean floors are dominated by clams burrowed into sand and mud, the quahogs, cockles and their relatives – a scene far different from that of the seafloor 66 million years ago.

    New winners in a scrambled ecosystem

    Ecological traits alone didn’t fully predict extinction patterns, nor do they entirely explain the rebound. We also see that simply surviving a mass extinction didn’t necessarily provide a leg up as species diversified within their old and sometimes new modes of life – and few of those new modes dominate the ecological landscape today.

    Like the rudists, trigoniid bivalves had lots of different species prior to the extinction event. These highly ornamented clams built parts of their shells with a super strong biomaterial called nacre – think iridescent pearls – and had fractally interlocking hinges holding their two valves together.

    An ancient fossil of a pearly but tough trigoniid bivalve from the last mass extinction. The two matching shells show their elaborate hinge.
    Smithsonian Institution

    But despite surviving the extinction, which should have placed them in a prime position to accumulate species again, their diversification sputtered. Other types of bivalves that made a living in the same way proliferated instead, relegating this once mighty and global group to a handful of species now found only off the coast of Australia.

    Lessons for today’s oceans

    These unexpected patterns of extinction and survival may offer lessons for the future.

    The fossil record shows us that biodiversity has definite breaking points, usually during a perfect storm of climatic and environmental upheaval. It’s not just that species are lost, but the ecological landscape is overturned.

    Many scientists believe the current biodiversity crisis may cascade into a sixth mass extinction, this one driven by human activities that are changing ecosystems and the global climate. Corals, whose reefs are home to nearly a quarter of known marine species, have faced mass bleaching events as warming ocean water puts their future at risk. Acidification as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide can also weaken the shells of organisms crucial to the ocean food web.

    Findings like ours suggest that, in the future, the rebound from extinction events will likely result in very different mixes of species and their modes of life in the oceans. And the result may not align with human needs if species providing the bulk of ecosystem services are driven genetically or functionally extinct.

    The global oceans and their inhabitants are complex, and, as our team’s latest research shows, it is difficult to predict the trajectory of biodiversity as it rebounds – even when extinction pressures are reduced.

    Billions of people depend on the ocean for food. As the history recorded by the world’s bivalves shows, the upending of the pecking order – the number of species in each mode of life – won’t necessarily settle into an arrangement that can feed as many people the next time around.

    Stewart Edie receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.

    – ref. Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/ancient-fossils-show-how-the-last-mass-extinction-forever-scrambled-the-oceans-biodiversity-258389

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Stewart Edie, Research Geologist and Curator of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution

    Even bivalves looked different during the time of the dinosaurs, as these fossils of an ultra-fortified oyster, left, and armored cockle show. Smithsonian Institution

    About 66 million years ago – perhaps on a downright unlucky day in May – an asteroid smashed into our planet.

    The fallout was immediate and severe. Evidence shows that about 70% of species went extinct in a geological instant, and not just those famous dinosaurs that once stalked the land. Masters of the Mesozoic oceans were also wiped out, from mosasaurs – a group of aquatic reptiles topping the food chain – to exquisitely shelled squid relatives known as ammonites.

    Even groups that weathered the catastrophe, such as mammals, fishes and flowering plants, suffered severe population declines and species loss. Invertebrate life in the oceans didn’t fare much better.

    But bubbling away on the seafloor was a stolid group of animals that has left a fantastic fossil record and continues to thrive today: bivalves – clams, cockles, mussels, oysters and more.

    What happened to these creatures during the extinction event and how they rebounded tells an important story, both about the past and the future of biodiversity.

    Surprising discoveries on the seafloor

    Marine bivalves lost around three-quarters of their species during this mass extinction, which marked the end of the Cretaceous Period. My colleagues and I – each of us paleobiologists studying biodiversity – expected that losing so many species would have severely cut down the variety of roles that bivalves play within their environments, what we call their “modes of life.”

    But, as we explain in a study published in the journal Sciences Advances, that wasn’t the case. In assessing the fossils of thousands of bivalve species, we found that at least one species from nearly all their modes of life, no matter how rare or specialized, squeaked through the extinction event.

    Statistically, that shouldn’t have happened. Kill 70% of bivalve species, even at random, and some modes of life should disappear.

    Bivalves had an amazing array of life modes just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago. Incredibly, despite the loss of 70% of their species, all but two modes of life survived – Nos. 2 and 10.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    Most bivalves happily burrow into the sand and mud, feeding on phytoplankton they strain from the water. But others have adopted chemosymbionts and photosymbionts – bacteria and algae that produce nutrients for the bivalves from chemicals or sunlight in exchange for housing. A few have even become carnivorous. Some groups, including the oysters, can lay down a tough cement that hardens underwater, and mussels hold onto rocks by spinning silken threads.

    We thought surely these more specialized modes of life would have been snuffed out by the effects of the asteroid’s impact, including dust and debris likely blocking sunlight and disrupting a huge part of the bivalves’ food chain: photosynthetic algae and bacteria. Instead, most persisted, although biodiversity was forever scrambled as a new ecological landscape emerged. Species that were once dominant struggled, while evolutionary newcomers rose in their place.

    The reasons some species survived and others didn’t leave many questions to explore. Those that filtered phytoplankton from the water column suffered some of the highest species losses, but so did species that fed on organic scraps and didn’t rely as much on the Sun’s energy. Narrow geographic distributions and different metabolisms may have contributed to these extinction patterns.

    Biodiversity bounces back

    Life rebounded from each of the Big Five mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history, eventually punching through past diversity highs. The rich fossil record and spectacular ecological diversity of bivalves gives us a terrific opportunity to study these rebounds to understand how ecosystems and global biodiversity rebuild in the wake of extinctions.

    The extinction caused by the asteroid strike knocked down some thriving modes of life and opened the door for others to dominate the new landscape.

    The rebound from the extinction wasn’t so straightforward. Some modes of life lost nearly all their species, never to recover their past diversity. Others rose to take the top ranks. Genera is the plural of genus.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    While many people lament the loss of the dinosaurs, we malacologists miss the rudists.

    These bizarrely shaped bivalves resembled giant ice cream cones, sometimes reaching more than 3 feet (1 meter) in size, and they dominated the shallow, tropical Mesozoic seas as massive aggregations of contorted individuals, similar to today’s coral reefs. At least a few harbored photosymbiotic algae, which provided them with nutrients and spurred their growth, much like modern corals.

    An ancient fossil of a rudist from before the last mass extinction. These bivalves could grow to a meter high.
    Smithsonian Institution

    Today, giant clams (Tridacna) and their relatives fill parts of these unique photosymbiotic lifestyles once occupied by the rudists, but they lack the rudists’ astonishing species diversity.

    Mass extinctions clearly upend the status quo. Now, our ocean floors are dominated by clams burrowed into sand and mud, the quahogs, cockles and their relatives – a scene far different from that of the seafloor 66 million years ago.

    New winners in a scrambled ecosystem

    Ecological traits alone didn’t fully predict extinction patterns, nor do they entirely explain the rebound. We also see that simply surviving a mass extinction didn’t necessarily provide a leg up as species diversified within their old and sometimes new modes of life – and few of those new modes dominate the ecological landscape today.

    Like the rudists, trigoniid bivalves had lots of different species prior to the extinction event. These highly ornamented clams built parts of their shells with a super strong biomaterial called nacre – think iridescent pearls – and had fractally interlocking hinges holding their two valves together.

    An ancient fossil of a pearly but tough trigoniid bivalve from the last mass extinction. The two matching shells show their elaborate hinge.
    Smithsonian Institution

    But despite surviving the extinction, which should have placed them in a prime position to accumulate species again, their diversification sputtered. Other types of bivalves that made a living in the same way proliferated instead, relegating this once mighty and global group to a handful of species now found only off the coast of Australia.

    Lessons for today’s oceans

    These unexpected patterns of extinction and survival may offer lessons for the future.

    The fossil record shows us that biodiversity has definite breaking points, usually during a perfect storm of climatic and environmental upheaval. It’s not just that species are lost, but the ecological landscape is overturned.

    Many scientists believe the current biodiversity crisis may cascade into a sixth mass extinction, this one driven by human activities that are changing ecosystems and the global climate. Corals, whose reefs are home to nearly a quarter of known marine species, have faced mass bleaching events as warming ocean water puts their future at risk. Acidification as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide can also weaken the shells of organisms crucial to the ocean food web.

    Findings like ours suggest that, in the future, the rebound from extinction events will likely result in very different mixes of species and their modes of life in the oceans. And the result may not align with human needs if species providing the bulk of ecosystem services are driven genetically or functionally extinct.

    The global oceans and their inhabitants are complex, and, as our team’s latest research shows, it is difficult to predict the trajectory of biodiversity as it rebounds – even when extinction pressures are reduced.

    Billions of people depend on the ocean for food. As the history recorded by the world’s bivalves shows, the upending of the pecking order – the number of species in each mode of life – won’t necessarily settle into an arrangement that can feed as many people the next time around.

    Stewart Edie receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.

    – ref. Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/ancient-fossils-show-how-the-last-mass-extinction-forever-scrambled-the-oceans-biodiversity-258389

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Stewart Edie, Research Geologist and Curator of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution

    Even bivalves looked different during the time of the dinosaurs, as these fossils of an ultra-fortified oyster, left, and armored cockle show. Smithsonian Institution

    About 66 million years ago – perhaps on a downright unlucky day in May – an asteroid smashed into our planet.

    The fallout was immediate and severe. Evidence shows that about 70% of species went extinct in a geological instant, and not just those famous dinosaurs that once stalked the land. Masters of the Mesozoic oceans were also wiped out, from mosasaurs – a group of aquatic reptiles topping the food chain – to exquisitely shelled squid relatives known as ammonites.

    Even groups that weathered the catastrophe, such as mammals, fishes and flowering plants, suffered severe population declines and species loss. Invertebrate life in the oceans didn’t fare much better.

    But bubbling away on the seafloor was a stolid group of animals that has left a fantastic fossil record and continues to thrive today: bivalves – clams, cockles, mussels, oysters and more.

    What happened to these creatures during the extinction event and how they rebounded tells an important story, both about the past and the future of biodiversity.

    Surprising discoveries on the seafloor

    Marine bivalves lost around three-quarters of their species during this mass extinction, which marked the end of the Cretaceous Period. My colleagues and I – each of us paleobiologists studying biodiversity – expected that losing so many species would have severely cut down the variety of roles that bivalves play within their environments, what we call their “modes of life.”

    But, as we explain in a study published in the journal Sciences Advances, that wasn’t the case. In assessing the fossils of thousands of bivalve species, we found that at least one species from nearly all their modes of life, no matter how rare or specialized, squeaked through the extinction event.

    Statistically, that shouldn’t have happened. Kill 70% of bivalve species, even at random, and some modes of life should disappear.

    Bivalves had an amazing array of life modes just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago. Incredibly, despite the loss of 70% of their species, all but two modes of life survived – Nos. 2 and 10.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    Most bivalves happily burrow into the sand and mud, feeding on phytoplankton they strain from the water. But others have adopted chemosymbionts and photosymbionts – bacteria and algae that produce nutrients for the bivalves from chemicals or sunlight in exchange for housing. A few have even become carnivorous. Some groups, including the oysters, can lay down a tough cement that hardens underwater, and mussels hold onto rocks by spinning silken threads.

    We thought surely these more specialized modes of life would have been snuffed out by the effects of the asteroid’s impact, including dust and debris likely blocking sunlight and disrupting a huge part of the bivalves’ food chain: photosynthetic algae and bacteria. Instead, most persisted, although biodiversity was forever scrambled as a new ecological landscape emerged. Species that were once dominant struggled, while evolutionary newcomers rose in their place.

    The reasons some species survived and others didn’t leave many questions to explore. Those that filtered phytoplankton from the water column suffered some of the highest species losses, but so did species that fed on organic scraps and didn’t rely as much on the Sun’s energy. Narrow geographic distributions and different metabolisms may have contributed to these extinction patterns.

    Biodiversity bounces back

    Life rebounded from each of the Big Five mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history, eventually punching through past diversity highs. The rich fossil record and spectacular ecological diversity of bivalves gives us a terrific opportunity to study these rebounds to understand how ecosystems and global biodiversity rebuild in the wake of extinctions.

    The extinction caused by the asteroid strike knocked down some thriving modes of life and opened the door for others to dominate the new landscape.

    The rebound from the extinction wasn’t so straightforward. Some modes of life lost nearly all their species, never to recover their past diversity. Others rose to take the top ranks. Genera is the plural of genus.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    While many people lament the loss of the dinosaurs, we malacologists miss the rudists.

    These bizarrely shaped bivalves resembled giant ice cream cones, sometimes reaching more than 3 feet (1 meter) in size, and they dominated the shallow, tropical Mesozoic seas as massive aggregations of contorted individuals, similar to today’s coral reefs. At least a few harbored photosymbiotic algae, which provided them with nutrients and spurred their growth, much like modern corals.

    An ancient fossil of a rudist from before the last mass extinction. These bivalves could grow to a meter high.
    Smithsonian Institution

    Today, giant clams (Tridacna) and their relatives fill parts of these unique photosymbiotic lifestyles once occupied by the rudists, but they lack the rudists’ astonishing species diversity.

    Mass extinctions clearly upend the status quo. Now, our ocean floors are dominated by clams burrowed into sand and mud, the quahogs, cockles and their relatives – a scene far different from that of the seafloor 66 million years ago.

    New winners in a scrambled ecosystem

    Ecological traits alone didn’t fully predict extinction patterns, nor do they entirely explain the rebound. We also see that simply surviving a mass extinction didn’t necessarily provide a leg up as species diversified within their old and sometimes new modes of life – and few of those new modes dominate the ecological landscape today.

    Like the rudists, trigoniid bivalves had lots of different species prior to the extinction event. These highly ornamented clams built parts of their shells with a super strong biomaterial called nacre – think iridescent pearls – and had fractally interlocking hinges holding their two valves together.

    An ancient fossil of a pearly but tough trigoniid bivalve from the last mass extinction. The two matching shells show their elaborate hinge.
    Smithsonian Institution

    But despite surviving the extinction, which should have placed them in a prime position to accumulate species again, their diversification sputtered. Other types of bivalves that made a living in the same way proliferated instead, relegating this once mighty and global group to a handful of species now found only off the coast of Australia.

    Lessons for today’s oceans

    These unexpected patterns of extinction and survival may offer lessons for the future.

    The fossil record shows us that biodiversity has definite breaking points, usually during a perfect storm of climatic and environmental upheaval. It’s not just that species are lost, but the ecological landscape is overturned.

    Many scientists believe the current biodiversity crisis may cascade into a sixth mass extinction, this one driven by human activities that are changing ecosystems and the global climate. Corals, whose reefs are home to nearly a quarter of known marine species, have faced mass bleaching events as warming ocean water puts their future at risk. Acidification as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide can also weaken the shells of organisms crucial to the ocean food web.

    Findings like ours suggest that, in the future, the rebound from extinction events will likely result in very different mixes of species and their modes of life in the oceans. And the result may not align with human needs if species providing the bulk of ecosystem services are driven genetically or functionally extinct.

    The global oceans and their inhabitants are complex, and, as our team’s latest research shows, it is difficult to predict the trajectory of biodiversity as it rebounds – even when extinction pressures are reduced.

    Billions of people depend on the ocean for food. As the history recorded by the world’s bivalves shows, the upending of the pecking order – the number of species in each mode of life – won’t necessarily settle into an arrangement that can feed as many people the next time around.

    Stewart Edie receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.

    – ref. Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/ancient-fossils-show-how-the-last-mass-extinction-forever-scrambled-the-oceans-biodiversity-258389

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Stewart Edie, Research Geologist and Curator of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution

    Even bivalves looked different during the time of the dinosaurs, as these fossils of an ultra-fortified oyster, left, and armored cockle show. Smithsonian Institution

    About 66 million years ago – perhaps on a downright unlucky day in May – an asteroid smashed into our planet.

    The fallout was immediate and severe. Evidence shows that about 70% of species went extinct in a geological instant, and not just those famous dinosaurs that once stalked the land. Masters of the Mesozoic oceans were also wiped out, from mosasaurs – a group of aquatic reptiles topping the food chain – to exquisitely shelled squid relatives known as ammonites.

    Even groups that weathered the catastrophe, such as mammals, fishes and flowering plants, suffered severe population declines and species loss. Invertebrate life in the oceans didn’t fare much better.

    But bubbling away on the seafloor was a stolid group of animals that has left a fantastic fossil record and continues to thrive today: bivalves – clams, cockles, mussels, oysters and more.

    What happened to these creatures during the extinction event and how they rebounded tells an important story, both about the past and the future of biodiversity.

    Surprising discoveries on the seafloor

    Marine bivalves lost around three-quarters of their species during this mass extinction, which marked the end of the Cretaceous Period. My colleagues and I – each of us paleobiologists studying biodiversity – expected that losing so many species would have severely cut down the variety of roles that bivalves play within their environments, what we call their “modes of life.”

    But, as we explain in a study published in the journal Sciences Advances, that wasn’t the case. In assessing the fossils of thousands of bivalve species, we found that at least one species from nearly all their modes of life, no matter how rare or specialized, squeaked through the extinction event.

    Statistically, that shouldn’t have happened. Kill 70% of bivalve species, even at random, and some modes of life should disappear.

    Bivalves had an amazing array of life modes just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction 66 million years ago. Incredibly, despite the loss of 70% of their species, all but two modes of life survived – Nos. 2 and 10.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    Most bivalves happily burrow into the sand and mud, feeding on phytoplankton they strain from the water. But others have adopted chemosymbionts and photosymbionts – bacteria and algae that produce nutrients for the bivalves from chemicals or sunlight in exchange for housing. A few have even become carnivorous. Some groups, including the oysters, can lay down a tough cement that hardens underwater, and mussels hold onto rocks by spinning silken threads.

    We thought surely these more specialized modes of life would have been snuffed out by the effects of the asteroid’s impact, including dust and debris likely blocking sunlight and disrupting a huge part of the bivalves’ food chain: photosynthetic algae and bacteria. Instead, most persisted, although biodiversity was forever scrambled as a new ecological landscape emerged. Species that were once dominant struggled, while evolutionary newcomers rose in their place.

    The reasons some species survived and others didn’t leave many questions to explore. Those that filtered phytoplankton from the water column suffered some of the highest species losses, but so did species that fed on organic scraps and didn’t rely as much on the Sun’s energy. Narrow geographic distributions and different metabolisms may have contributed to these extinction patterns.

    Biodiversity bounces back

    Life rebounded from each of the Big Five mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history, eventually punching through past diversity highs. The rich fossil record and spectacular ecological diversity of bivalves gives us a terrific opportunity to study these rebounds to understand how ecosystems and global biodiversity rebuild in the wake of extinctions.

    The extinction caused by the asteroid strike knocked down some thriving modes of life and opened the door for others to dominate the new landscape.

    The rebound from the extinction wasn’t so straightforward. Some modes of life lost nearly all their species, never to recover their past diversity. Others rose to take the top ranks. Genera is the plural of genus.
    Adapted from Edie et al. 2025, Science Advances

    While many people lament the loss of the dinosaurs, we malacologists miss the rudists.

    These bizarrely shaped bivalves resembled giant ice cream cones, sometimes reaching more than 3 feet (1 meter) in size, and they dominated the shallow, tropical Mesozoic seas as massive aggregations of contorted individuals, similar to today’s coral reefs. At least a few harbored photosymbiotic algae, which provided them with nutrients and spurred their growth, much like modern corals.

    An ancient fossil of a rudist from before the last mass extinction. These bivalves could grow to a meter high.
    Smithsonian Institution

    Today, giant clams (Tridacna) and their relatives fill parts of these unique photosymbiotic lifestyles once occupied by the rudists, but they lack the rudists’ astonishing species diversity.

    Mass extinctions clearly upend the status quo. Now, our ocean floors are dominated by clams burrowed into sand and mud, the quahogs, cockles and their relatives – a scene far different from that of the seafloor 66 million years ago.

    New winners in a scrambled ecosystem

    Ecological traits alone didn’t fully predict extinction patterns, nor do they entirely explain the rebound. We also see that simply surviving a mass extinction didn’t necessarily provide a leg up as species diversified within their old and sometimes new modes of life – and few of those new modes dominate the ecological landscape today.

    Like the rudists, trigoniid bivalves had lots of different species prior to the extinction event. These highly ornamented clams built parts of their shells with a super strong biomaterial called nacre – think iridescent pearls – and had fractally interlocking hinges holding their two valves together.

    An ancient fossil of a pearly but tough trigoniid bivalve from the last mass extinction. The two matching shells show their elaborate hinge.
    Smithsonian Institution

    But despite surviving the extinction, which should have placed them in a prime position to accumulate species again, their diversification sputtered. Other types of bivalves that made a living in the same way proliferated instead, relegating this once mighty and global group to a handful of species now found only off the coast of Australia.

    Lessons for today’s oceans

    These unexpected patterns of extinction and survival may offer lessons for the future.

    The fossil record shows us that biodiversity has definite breaking points, usually during a perfect storm of climatic and environmental upheaval. It’s not just that species are lost, but the ecological landscape is overturned.

    Many scientists believe the current biodiversity crisis may cascade into a sixth mass extinction, this one driven by human activities that are changing ecosystems and the global climate. Corals, whose reefs are home to nearly a quarter of known marine species, have faced mass bleaching events as warming ocean water puts their future at risk. Acidification as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide can also weaken the shells of organisms crucial to the ocean food web.

    Findings like ours suggest that, in the future, the rebound from extinction events will likely result in very different mixes of species and their modes of life in the oceans. And the result may not align with human needs if species providing the bulk of ecosystem services are driven genetically or functionally extinct.

    The global oceans and their inhabitants are complex, and, as our team’s latest research shows, it is difficult to predict the trajectory of biodiversity as it rebounds – even when extinction pressures are reduced.

    Billions of people depend on the ocean for food. As the history recorded by the world’s bivalves shows, the upending of the pecking order – the number of species in each mode of life – won’t necessarily settle into an arrangement that can feed as many people the next time around.

    Stewart Edie receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.

    – ref. Ancient fossils show how the last mass extinction forever scrambled the ocean’s biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/ancient-fossils-show-how-the-last-mass-extinction-forever-scrambled-the-oceans-biodiversity-258389

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Daniel Cohan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University

    Proposed revisions to U.S. energy policy would likely raise consumer prices and climate-warming emissions. zpagistock/Moment via Getty Images

    When it comes to energy policy, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – the official name of a massive federal tax-cut and spending bill that House Republicans passed in May 2025 – risks raising Americans’ energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

    The 1,100-page bill would slash incentives for green technologies such as solar, wind, batteries, electric cars and heat pumps while subsidizing existing nuclear power plants and biofuels. That would leave the country and its people burning more fossil fuels despite strong popular and scientific support for a rapid shift to renewable energy.

    The bill may still be revised by the Senate before it moves to a final vote. But it is a picture of how President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans want to reshape U.S. energy policy.

    As an environmental engineering professor who studies ways to confront climate change, I think it is important to distinguish which technologies could rapidly cut emissions or are on the verge of becoming viable from those that do little to fight climate change. Unfortunately, the House bill favors the latter while nixing support for the former.

    Renewable energy

    Wind and solar power, often paired with batteries, are providing over 90% of the new electricity currently being added to the grid nationally and around the world. Geothermal power is undergoing technological breakthroughs. With natural gas turbines in short supply and long lead times to build other resources, renewables and batteries offer the fastest way to satisfy growing demand for power.

    However, the House bill rescinds billions of dollars that the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, devoted to boosting domestic manufacturing and deployments of renewable energy and batteries.

    It would terminate tax credits for manufacturing for the wind industry in 2028 and for solar and batteries in 2032. That would disrupt the boom in domestic manufacturing projects that was being stimulated by the Inflation Reduction Act.

    Deployments would be hit even harder. Wind, solar, geothermal and battery projects would need to commence construction within 60 days of passage of the bill to receive tax credits.

    In addition, the bill would deny tax credits to projects that use Chinese-made components. Financial analysts have called those provisions “unworkable,” since some Chinese materials may be necessary even for projects built with as much domestic content as possible.

    Analysts warn that the House bill would cut new wind, solar and battery installations by 20% compared with the growth that had been expected without the bill. That’s why BloombergNEF, an energy research firm, called the bill a “nightmare scenario” for clean energy proponents.

    However, one person’s nightmare may be another man’s dream. “We’re constraining the hell out of wind and solar, which is good,” said Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican backed by the oil and gas industry.

    Wind turbines and solar panels generate renewable energy side by side near Palm Springs, Calif.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Efficiency and electric cars

    Cuts fall even harder on Americans who are trying to reduce their carbon footprints and energy costs. The bill repeals aid for home efficiency improvements such as heat pumps, efficient windows and energy audits. Homeowners would also lose tax credits for installing solar panels and batteries.

    For vehicles, the bill would not only repeal tax credits for electric cars, trucks and chargers, but it also would impose a federal $250 annual fee on vehicles, on top of fees that some states charge electric-car owners. The federal fee is more than the gas taxes paid by other drivers to fund highways and ignores air-quality and climate effects.

    Combined, the lost credits and increased fees could cut projected U.S. sales of electric vehicles by 40% in 2030, according to modeling by Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University.

    Nuclear power

    Meanwhile, the bill partially retains a tax credit for electricity from existing nuclear power plants. Those plants may not need the help: Electricity demand is surging, and companies like Meta are signing long-term deals for nuclear energy to power data centers. Nuclear plants are also paid to manage their radioactive waste, since the country lacks a permanent place to store it.

    For new nuclear plants, the bill would move up the deadline to 2028 to begin construction. That deadline is too soon for some new reactor designs and would rush the vetting of others. Nuclear safety regulators are awaiting a study from the National Academies on the weapons proliferation risks of the type of uranium fuel that some developers hope to use in newer designs.

    The House-passed bill would protect government subsidies for existing nuclear power plants, like the one in the background, while limiting support for wind turbines.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Biofuels

    While cutting funding for electric vehicles, the bill would spend $45 billion to extend tax credits for biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

    Food-based biofuels do little good for the climate because growing, harvesting and processing crops requires fertilizers, pesticides and fuel. The bill would allow forests to be cut to make room for crops because it directs agencies to ignore the impacts of biofuels on land use.

    Hydrogen

    The bill would end tax credits for hydrogen production. Without that support, companies will be unlikely to invest in the seven so-called “hydrogen hubs” that were allocated a combined $8 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Those hubs aim to attract $40 billion in private investments and create tens of thousands of jobs while developing cleaner ways to make hydrogen.

    The repealed tax credits would have subsidized hydrogen made emissions-free by using renewable or nuclear electricity to split water molecules. They also would have subsidized hydrogen made from natural gas with carbon capture, whose benefits are impaired by methane emissions from natural gas systems and incomplete carbon capture.

    However it’s made, hydrogen is no panacea. As the world’s smallest molecule, hydrogen is prone to leaking, which can pose safety challenges and indirectly warm the climate. And while hydrogen is essential for making fertilizers and potentially useful for making steel or aviation fuels, vehicles and heating are more efficiently powered by electricity than by hydrogen.

    Still, European governments and China are investing heavily in hydrogen production.

    As Congress deliberates on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the nation’s energy agenda is one of many issues being hotly debated.
    Kevin Carter/Getty Images

    Summing it up

    The conservative Tax Foundation estimates that the House bill would cut the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits by about half, saving the government $50 billion a year. But with fewer efficiency improvements, fewer electric vehicles and less clean power on the grid, Princeton’s Jenkins projects American households would pay up to $415 more per year for energy by 2035 than if the bill’s provisions were not enacted. If the bill’s provisions make it into law, the extra fossil fuel-burning would leave annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 1 billion tons higher by then.

    No one expected former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to escape unscathed with Republicans in the White House and dominating both houses of Congress. Still, the proposed cuts target the technologies Americans count on to protect the climate and save consumers money.

    Daniel Cohan receives funding from the Carbon Hub at Rice University.

    – ref. How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate – https://theconversation.com/how-the-big-beautiful-bill-positions-us-energy-to-be-more-costly-for-consumers-and-the-climate-257783

    MIL OSI –